SKULKED Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

skulked

verb

past tense of skulk

as in lurked

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

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as in hid

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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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 skulked One roach skulked under a food prep table. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025 Soon after My Bloody Valentine skulked into the Wembley Arena spotlights, the initial roar of some 12,000 fans abated. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025 Money speaks, the land listens, where the Anarchist skulked, where the horsethief plied his trade, we fishers of Americans will cast our nets of perfect ten-acre mesh, leveled and varmint-proofed, ready to build on. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 The models skulked through The Box like zombies from a past life. — Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulked

Verb

The city of Atlanta has jurisdiction over Hartsfield-Jackson, but the threat of a state takeover of the world’s busiest airport has lurked in the background of Georgia politics for years.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 5 Aug. 2026
But concerns lurked beneath the surface of an otherwise positive report.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lurked

Verb

The couple snuck off the next weekend and got married on May 30, 1966 at the Ringgold Baptist Church in Ringgold, Ga.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
While Bad Sisters snuck a nuanced portrait of sisterhood into a frantic whodunit, Youth lets its characters steep in the weirdness of ordinary life.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sneaked

Verb

Planned production was delayed by more than two years, while initial operational capability has slipped by roughly three and a half years to the third quarter of fiscal year 2030.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Finally, Brent Brennan’s first year at Arizona in 2024 went so badly (the Wildcats slipped from 10-3 to 4-8) there were rumors he might get fired before Year 2.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of slipped

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“Skulked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulked. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of skulked

verb

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