1
2
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
her hand just barely skimmed the wall as she ran down the hallway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to peek
to take a quick or hasty look
he impatiently skimmed through the book, looking for the specific passage he remembered seeing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skim
Fans of adidas will love the brand's iconic three-stripe design featured heavily throughout, and newcomers who prefer a feminine touch might fall for some of the pieces in pastel colorways or the flowy, body-skimming styles.
—
Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Being alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
But a financial audit revealed that Alfortish had been skimming money, some of which had been earmarked for hurricane relief, to pay for vacations to Aruba and to Grand Cayman, and for a new sound system at his home.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Many are nothing more than tiny dots of color that a distracted eye skims right over.
—Alissa Greenberg, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skim
Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Being alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
But a financial audit revealed that Alfortish had been skimming money, some of which had been earmarked for hurricane relief, to pay for vacations to Aruba and to Grand Cayman, and for a new sound system at his home.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Many are nothing more than tiny dots of color that a distracted eye skims right over.
—Alissa Greenberg, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skim
Verb
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Now flip it around and imagine Pavia as a mini-Mendoza, a guy who projects to spend quiet nights playing Clue with Kirk Cousins and his family in greater Las Vegas.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Now there’s a chance to flip the script — using money the borough’s wealthier neighbor has already generated.—
Peter Peyser,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Moon in Scorpio forms a flowing trine to Jupiter across your 9th House of Perspective, opening up a clearer, bigger-picture view.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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Newcastle is part of Tyneside, an area around the banks of the River Tyne that has been shaped by industry, a context that flows through A Great Day in Newcastle.—
Archie Forde,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Served with Catalan flatbread chips ($12), redfish Galicia, a fish brushed with extra-virgin olive oil, cooked in a sauce pan with garlic butter, baked with lemon zest.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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Wipe the sink after brushing teeth or washing your face.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Alcantara escaped the jam when Alex Freeland bounced to second with two runners on.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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Wex is bound to bounce as the global commerce platform’s efforts to court new customers drives its sales recovery, according to Loop Capital.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the final buzzer blared, the benches cleared at midcourt as the teams’ tensions simmered once more – a moment Redick likened to peeking into an altercation happening at a bar on Beale Street in Memphis or Bourbon Street in New Orleans.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
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Juan used to be confined to a different room in the facility that had a frosted window with a small patch scratched out at the bottom, just big enough for his eye to peek through.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there’s an innate slickness to drone footage that can turn a shot of, say, a South Texas Starbucks into a joke, and there’s a mechanical quality to the way drones glide through the air that, even if controlled by a human, feels impersonal — a view from nowhere.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Viking leans heavily into how guests experience The Hangar, Viking’s in-ship marina, where military-grade Special Operations Boats glide straight from the ship into the lake like a secret escape route.—
Malika Bowling,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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People should avoid kissing or snuggling with backyard birds, the CDC says.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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His son Bret recalled his father’s postgame smiles, hugs and kisses with his wife of 58 years Debbie.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s not a directive to skip screening.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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The shampoo relies on mild, sulfate-free cleansers and soothing ingredients like bisabolol and glycerin to cleanse without triggering dryness or sensitivity, while skipping fragrance entirely (a major win for reactive skin).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skim. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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