flittering
Moving in bursts
Flittering describes quick, light, darting movement—the motion of things that flit.
Butterflies go flittering past, shadows flitter across walls, thoughts flitter through the mind.
The word emphasizes the rapid, restless quality of the movement: Sparrows were flittering among the branches.
Flittering and fluttering overlap, though flittering suggests more erratic, less sustained motion.
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- briefShort in duration
- passingMoving by or temporary
evanescent · transitory · vanishing · elusive · short-lived · impermanent · flickering · fading
Winged insect from caterpillar
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- wingsLimbs for flight
- featheryLight and soft-textured
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
wispy · delicate · airy · buoyant · ethereal · diaphanous · gauzy · weightless
Handheld pointed projectile
fleeting
Passing very quickly
passing · evanescent · transitory · vanishing · elusive · short-lived · impermanent · flickering · fading · disappearing
butterfly
Winged insect from caterpillar
gossamer · wispy · delicate · airy · buoyant · ethereal · diaphanous · gauzy · weightless · floaty
dart
Handheld pointed projectile
zigzag · bob · weave · skim · glide · swoop · dip · swirl · whirl · pirouette
unpredictable
Cannot be anticipated
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
- haphazardLacking organization or plan
aimless · scattered · restless · mercurial · fickle · flighty · wayward · fitful · skittish · inconstant
glimmer
Faint, wavering light
flicker · dance · play · dapple · shimmer · scintillate · wink · gleam · flash · glitter
flutter, fritter, flit, fluttering, flitter, fluttered, frittering, flittered, flitters