scuttles

Moves like crabs

Scuttles is the third-person singular of scuttle, which has two distinct meanings.

To scuttle is to move with short, hurried steps—a scurrying motion: A crab scuttled across the sand.

Separately, to scuttle a ship is to sink it deliberately by opening holes in the hull.

By extension, you can scuttle plans or negotiations by sabotaging them: The scandal scuttled his presidential bid.

scurries

scamper

Quick, light-footed dash

  • dashQuick burst or pinch
  • hurryMove with urgency
  • scurryHurried small-stepped motion

scramble · flee · bolt · sprint · hasten · dart · rush · hustle · bustle · flit

sinks

sabotage

Deliberate disruption of operations

torpedo · capsize · sink · founder · maritime · hull · breach · seacock · bilge · abandon ship

coalbin

bucket

Open-top carrying vessel

  • hodPole-mounted material trough
  • firesideArea beside the hearth
  • hearthFireplace floor area

kindling · tongs · shovel · fireplace · stove · ash · furnace · brazier · ember · poker

Opposites
manner of movement

scuttlesstrolls

Unhurried walks

saunters · ambles · moseys · promenades · stands still

ship fate/action

scuttlessalvages

Recovers usable material

refloats · saves · rescues · preserves · repairs

plan/project outcome

scuttlesadvances

Forward movements or progress

pursues · promotes · saves · rescues · preserves

Phrases
Family

scuttle, scuttled, scuttling

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G