Definition

Adjective: 1. Resembling a wolf in appearance, behavior, or characteristics: Having qualities that are typical of or similar to a wolf. 2. Characteristically wolfish: Exhibiting traits considered characteristic of a wolf, such as fierceness, rapacity, or a pack mentality.

Usage and Examples

• Descriptive of Appearance:

  • The dog had a wolflike appearance, with pointed ears and a thick, gray coat.
  • Her wolflike eyes seemed to gleam in the dark.

• Descriptive of Behavior or Nature:

  • The hunters moved with a wolflike stealth through the forest.
  • He was accused of wolflike greed in his business dealings.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Often used metaphorically to describe human behavior that is perceived as predatory, fiercely competitive, or ruthlessly efficient.
  • The corporation's wolflike tactics eliminated all competition.
  • There was a wolflike hunger in his ambition.

Variants and Related Words

• Wolfish (adjective): Very similar in meaning to "wolflike," often implying a fierce, menacing, or ravenous quality.
  • He flashed a wolfish grin.
• Lupine (adjective): A more formal or literary synonym meaning "of, relating to, or resembling a wolf."
  • The creature had a lupine grace.

Synonyms

• Wolfish
• Lupine
• Predatory (when referring to behavior)
• Feral (suggesting a wild, undomesticated nature)

Notes on Meaning

• The term "wolflike" can carry both neutral descriptive connotations (simply resembling a wolf) and negative connotations (implying a vicious or insatiable nature), depending on context.
• It is often used in zoology, literature, and figurative descriptions.

Adjective

1. resembling or characteristic (or considered characteristic) of a wolf
   • ran in wolflike packs
   • wolfish rapacity