SKULKS Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

skulks 1 of 2

noun

plural of skulk

as in sneaks

someone who acts in a sly and secret manner were surprised to discover the skulk stealing from the garden was a raccoon

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skulks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of skulk

as in lurks

to move about in a sly or secret manner I thought I saw someone skulking about in the shadows

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in hides

to remain out of sight the animal control officers caught the stray cat that had been skulking behind some trash cans

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 skulks

Noun

Frank discovers Lee’s meddling and skulks into Arthur’s apartment and murders him. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025 Despite a restraining order against her, Lisa skulks around the twins’ school at drop-off and stalks them in the grocery store. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025

Verb

With Irene threatening Billie, Joe skulks back to his cement cell, but hears Irene torturing Billie in the next room. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulks

Noun

Available in several pastel hues and patterns, these high-vamp canvas sneaks look ultracomfy and flattering.

— Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Sinatra and Dean Martin croon softly on the speakers (until the occasional Charli xcx track sneaks in).

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of sneaks

Verb

The Spurs superstar lurks down low near the basket, allowing guards to pressure aggressively on the perimeter.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Clements sets the scene with lively pop music and excellent period-specific costuming, though darkness lurks beneath the funky 1970s groove.

— Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of lurks

Verb

That gap is where debt hides until something goes wrong across agents and everyone can say their piece worked as designed.

— Venkatesh Sankaran, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
The league usually hides these blunders behind closed doors and quiet internal grading-system tweaks.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of hides

Noun

Officials say the last animal confirmed to have rabies that wasn’t a bat was a skunk infected with the bat strain of rabies in Long Beach in 2014.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
And coyotes regulate populations of mesocarnivores like skunks and raccoons, helping support the survival of ground-nesting birds.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of skunks

Verb

Marina Warner Possessed of Alchemystic Powers Ithell Colquhoun improvised with Surrealist and occult divinatory techniques in her paintings, and also in her writing—and in this lies her true originality.

— Conor Heffernan, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
Culver City secured an agreement with the operator of the Inglewood Oil Field to shut down the part that lies within its borders by 2029.

— Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of lies

Noun

However, the film’s candy-colored palette (derived from a box of macarons), New Romantic–heavy soundtrack, and countless contemporary winks (eagle-eyed fans will spot those lilac Converse sneakers in the exhibition) are singlehandedly Sofia.

— Stephanie Sporn, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Layer a blazer over a bike short, swap sneakers for loafers, and the shift from Pilates to a corner table happens without a second thought.

— Zoë Mackay, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of sneakers

Noun

There are leaders, lurkers, peacekeepers, instigators, and the person who only surfaces to drop an occasional thumbs-up.

— Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 May 2026
The Cubs and Padres are well clear of any lurkers for the top two spots, but the Mets have the last ticket in for now, with San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati all within 2 1/2 games of them.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025

Definition of lurkers

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skulking

skulks

skull

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“Skulks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulks. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of skulks

noun

verb

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