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Glite Dictionary
to skulk

to skulk

20 7.7
To move or act quietly to avoid being noticed
  • verb
  • /skʌlk/
translation icon : escabullirse
  • The children decided to skulk away from the party to play in the park.
  • skulk away
  • skulk back
  • skulking in the dark

Or maybe they thank their lucky stars that they weren't caught and they skulk off to their own mansions and yachts, where hopefully we never need to hear from them again.

Examples

  • All summer, the boys have skulked along the bank beneath the houses.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Stop skulking behind that screen.

    Lisztomania (1975)

  • Nobody knows how many of these dangerous creatures skulk along the northern coast of Australia.

    Academic text (2011)

  • So off to the discount store they did skulk.

    Cry Wolf (1947)

  • After a while, a few of the kids get bold and come skulking up to the wall.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • I believe Tibeats is skulking about the premises somewhere.

    12 Years a Slave (2013)

  • You were seen skulking around my marquee -- you and two rough-looking laborers.

    Jack Ensch: Hanoi Hilton POW (2016)

  • Then they shook their long ears, rattled their collars, and skulked down in the dust again.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The cat began to skulk around the backyard, trying to avoid the attention of the dog.

  • She skulked through the hallways, hoping not to be seen by her teachers.

Synonyms

to creep
vsto skulk
155 2.5

To move slowly and quietly with the body low to the ground

is secretive or sneaky generally and not restricted to low slow movement
to lurk
vsto skulk
104 5.5

To stay hidden and move secretly to watch or frighten people

is about secretive movement to avoid notice rather than suspicious waiting
to prowl
vsto skulk
35 5.3

To move quietly around a place looking for something

is secretive behaviour mainly to avoid notice not to search or hunt
to scuttle
vsto skulk
31 5.5

To move quickly with short hurried steps, often to hide or escape

is secretive movement performed more slowly and deliberately rather than hurriedly
to slink
vsto skulk
16 6.7

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen

is similar but does not require guilt or fear as the reason
to sidle
vsto skulk
5 8.1

To move slowly and quietly to the side to avoid being noticed

is about secretive movement overall and not limited to sideways motion
to ghost
vsto skulk
1 6.8

To move quietly and smoothly so people do not notice

is about secretive behaviour often to hide or avoid notice rather than smoothness
to skulk in the shadows
vsto skulk
1 8.6

To hide and move quietly in dark places to avoid being seen

is the broader secretive behaviour not limited to dark places
to sidle past
vsto skulk
1 7.9

To move sideways past someone quietly without being noticed

is the broader secretive action not only about moving past sideways
to hugger-mugger
vsto skulk
  • Archaic
9.9

To act in a secret, quiet way to avoid being seen

is about general secret movement to avoid being noticed or consequences
to pussyfoot
vsto skulk
  • Informal
8.9

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being noticed

is more about secretive or sneaky behaviour not just cautious movement
to mouse
vsto skulk
7.3

To move around quietly while looking for something to catch or eat

is about secretive behaviour to avoid notice rather than animal searching

Antonyms

to reveal
∞ 2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

to expose
146 2.8

Make something visible by removing a cover or letting light reach it

Phrasal Verbs

to skulk in the shadows
1 8.6

To hide and move quietly in dark places to avoid being seen

How Secretive

to lurk
104 5.5
to skulk
20 7.7
sneak
2 5.6
to slink
16 6.7
prowl
22 6.3

Surface Forms

skulk infinitive
skulked past
skulked past participle
skulking present participle
sulks third person singular

Etymology

Skulk comes from an old Norse word skulka meaning 'to hide' or 'to avoid work'. So to skulk today is to move quietly or sneak away to avoid being seen or to avoid doing work.