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Afraid vs Skittish - What's the difference?

afraid | skittish | Related terms |

Afraid is a related term of skittish.


As adjectives the difference between afraid and skittish

is that afraid is impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear while skittish is easily scared or startled; timid.

afraid

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
    • He is afraid of death.
    He is afraid to die.
    He is afraid that he will die.
  • (colloquial) regretful, sorry
    • I am afraid I can not help you in this matter .

    Usage notes

    * (term) expresses a lesser degree of fear than (terrified) or (frightened). It is often followed by the preposition (term) and the object of fear, or by an infinitive, or by a dependent clause, as shown in the examples above.

    Synonyms

    * (Impressed with fear or apprehension) afeared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, fearful, timid, timorous * (Regretful) sorry * See also

    Derived terms

    * 'fraid * afraidness * I'm afraid not * I'm afraid so * unafraid

    See also

    * fear

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    skittish

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Easily scared or startled; timid.
    • The cat likes people he knows, but he is skittish around strangers.
  • wanton; changeable; fickle
    • Skittish Fortune's hall. — Shakespeare.

    Synonyms

    * spookish * jumpy * squirrelly

    Derived terms

    * skittishly * skittishness

    See also

    * startle