skittish
Quick to spook
Skittish describes nervous, easily startled behavior—originally of horses, now of any creature prone to sudden fright: The skittish cat bolted at the slightest noise.
Extended to people, it suggests jumpiness or reluctance to commit: Investors grew skittish after the market dropped.
The word carries a slight note of irrationality or excessive caution.
Anxiously restless
- jumpyNervously reactive to stimuli
- edgyTense and irritable
- tenseStrained or nervous
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
apprehensive · uneasy · fidgety · twitchy · on-edge · high-strung · hyperalert · agitated
Frightened into alertness
- startledAbruptly surprised or alarmed
- jumpyNervously reactive to stimuli
- twitchyNervously prone to spasms
- reactiveTending to respond
hypersensitive · alert · vigilant · wary · flinchy · oversensitive · hair-trigger · excitable
Experiencing sudden fear
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- fearfulFull of fright
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- waryGuardedly alert
distrustful · leery · suspicious · guarded · mistrustful · spooked · alarmed · fainthearted
Erratic and unreliable
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
fickle · changeable · temperamental · inconstant · whimsical · impulsive · moody · unstable
Lacking courage or confidence
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- coyAffectedly modest
- withdrawnEmotionally distant, disengaged
- reservedRestrained in manner
reticent · diffident · demure · mousy · self-effacing · retiring · hesitant · introverted
Easily upset or offended
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- reactiveTending to respond
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
prickly · irritable · peevish · vulnerable · high-maintenance · temperamental · fussy
jittery
Anxiously restless
anxious · apprehensive · uneasy · fidgety · twitchy · on-edge · high-strung · hyperalert · agitated · restive
spooked
Frightened into alertness
- startledAbruptly surprised or alarmed
- jumpyNervously reactive to stimuli
- twitchyNervously prone to spasms
reactive · hypersensitive · alert · vigilant · wary · flinchy · oversensitive · hair-trigger · excitable · panicky
frightened
Experiencing sudden fear
- scaredFeeling fear or alarm
- fearfulFull of fright
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
wary · distrustful · leery · suspicious · guarded · mistrustful · spooked · alarmed · fainthearted · cowardly
flighty
Erratic and unreliable
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- volatileLiable to sudden change
capricious · fickle · changeable · temperamental · inconstant · whimsical · impulsive · moody · unstable · wayward
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
reserved · reticent · diffident · demure · mousy · self-effacing · retiring · hesitant · introverted · sheepish
touchy
Easily upset or offended
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- reactiveTending to respond
fragile · prickly · irritable · peevish · vulnerable · high-maintenance · temperamental · fussy
- uneasyanxious, nervous, jittery, edgy, tense
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- bird traitsfeathered, plumed, plumage, plumaged, beaky
- cat traitssilky coat, coat, tabby pattern, claws, long-haired
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- farm animal traitswoolly, spotted, hooved, horned, feathered
skittishcalm
Free from agitation
unflappable · steady · imperturbable · composed · serene
skittishbold
Courageous and daring
brave · fearless · courageous · daring · audacious
skittishsteadfast
Firmly loyal, unshakeable
committed · reliable · resolute · dependable · unwavering