1
as in darted
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flapped
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
fluttered my eyelashes as I struck up a conversation with the new guy at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fluttered
The president’s guests — which included top members of his administration, MAGA allies and big-time political donors — noshed on hors d’oeuvres and downed exotic cocktails while jazz music blared and burlesque dancers fluttered their fans.
—
Garrett Haake, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
Union Jack bunting fluttered overhead.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Concertgoers fluttered around the building, staying away from the barricaded stairs leading up to the upstairs balcony, which is inaccessible.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Councilwoman Stevens fluttered and snapped a folding fan.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
And Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of Team USA sealed her iconic 100 Metres Final win with lashes that fluttered as boldly as her stride, plus long nails that looked as unstoppable as her finish.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
The pass fluttered to Baron Browning, who intercepted it near midfield.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Their tops and Tate’s hair fluttered in the breeze of a wind machine absurdly cranked up to Stage 4 hurricane levels.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Numerous colorful flags with religious phrases and the name of Imam Hussein in Arabic fluttered among the crowd as families walked together, young and old, most dressed in black as a symbol of mourning, some pushing strollers and wagons with their children.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluttered
Verb
-
When Carrasco invited me into their backyard, which was lively with chickens and dogs, Ezra ran up, gave me a quick once-over, and then darted off to play on the swing set with his younger brother.—
-
Cavland Hunter darted in from the 2 and also ran in the conversion.—
Verb
-
Their wings, a bit weighted down by water, flapped as the float rolled.—
-
Cute flapped cargo pockets on both legs that give them a sportier, slightly edgier vibe.—
Verb
-
On the 10-mile drive to the school, Gussick’s mind flitted to every possible scenario.—
-
But Scales said her performance as Sybil was inspired by her visit as a child to a Devonshire hotel restaurant during World War II, where the hotel's proprietress flitted about while attending to her guests.—
Verb
-
For three months and 32 shows, the then-13-year-old prodigy danced alongside her mom throughout the three-hour concert.—
-
Consider Virginia McLaurin, who joyfully danced with the Obamas at age 106 and later supported youth mentoring, or Edith Renfrow Smith, now 110, whose advocacy for education continues to inspire.—
Verb
-
Instead of slamming it home, Antetokounmpo soared over the defenders to make an improbable catch, landed and flicked an on-target pass to Rollins for a corner 3 before falling out of bounds to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.—
-
After initially suspecting a bullet or debris flicked up by a truck, the police ruled out both.—
Cite this Entry
“Fluttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluttered. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share