flitter
Move like butterflies
To flitter is to move with quick, light, irregular motions—like a butterfly or a nervous thought.
The word suggests something more erratic than flutter, less sustained than flit: Moths flittered around the porch light.
A flitter can also be a fragment or shred, though this use is rare.
Unsteady, brief light
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- glimmerFaint, wavering light
- twinkleShine with flickering light
- glintBrief bright reflection
sparkle · dance · waver · quiver · dapple · play · candlelight · firefly
Limbs for flight
- butterflyWinged insect from caterpillar
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- hummingbirdSmall nectar-feeding hoverer
- dragonflyLarge-eyed flying predator
hover · glide · feather · petal · leaf · airborne · drift · airy
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- passingMoving by or temporary
- briefShort in duration
evanescent · vanishing · fading · transitory · short-lived · wisp · elusive
Erratically disloyal in affection
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- restlessUnable to be still
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
aimless · inconstant · mercurial · flighty · skittish · unsettled · wavering · indecisive
flicker
Unsteady, brief light
glint · sparkle · dance · waver · quiver · dapple · play · candlelight · firefly · luminous
wings
Limbs for flight
- butterflyWinged insect from caterpillar
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- hummingbirdSmall nectar-feeding hoverer
dragonfly · hover · glide · feather · petal · leaf · airborne · drift · airy · lightness
fleeting
Passing very quickly
brief · evanescent · vanishing · fading · transitory · short-lived · wisp · elusive
fickle
Erratically disloyal in affection
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- restlessUnable to be still
scattered · aimless · inconstant · mercurial · flighty · skittish · unsettled · wavering · indecisive · fitful