Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of or relating to wolves.
  • adjective Suggestive of or resembling a wolf.
  • adjective Fierce or rapacious.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Like a wolf; having the qualities or traits of a wolf; savage; ravening: as, a wolfish visage; wolfish designs.
  • noun Hungry as a wolf is supposed to be; ravenous.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Like a wolf; having the qualities or form of a wolf

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Pertaining to wolves.
  • adjective Akin to the characteristics or habits of a wolf; lupine.
  • adjective Fierce; savage; menacing.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective devouring or craving food in great quantities
  • adjective resembling or characteristic (or considered characteristic) of a wolf

Etymologies

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Examples

  • They walked down the block-long sidewalk, past the warehouse doors and the long teams of waiting huskies curled up in wolfish comfort in the snow.

    CHAPTER 6 2010

  • She had often read of smiles being described as wolfish, but this was the first time she had ever seen one.

    A Time to Dream Jordan, Penny 1991

  • She had often read of smiles being described as wolfish, but this was the first time she had ever seen one.

    A Time to Dream Jordan, Penny 1991

  • She recalled the wolfish gleam that flashed into Bethune's eyes, and the malicious hatred expressed in his insinuations and accusations against these men.

    The Gold Girl 1921

  • "Plead not for me, sir," said William Hinkley, glaring upon Stevens with something of that expression which in western parlance is called wolfish, "I scorn and spurn your interference."

    Charlemont; Or, the Pride of the Village. a Tale of Kentucky William Gilmore Simms 1838

  • He looked very tdridly, like some kind of wolfish grandfather figure.

    In Alien Hands Shatner, William 1997

  • "Nangi-san was vice-minister of MITI," Sato said with a kind of wolfish smile, "until seven years ago when, as a ronin, he helped found Daimyo and, quite directly of course, Sato Petrochemicals."

    The Miko Lustbader, Eric 1984

  • _ Doubtless the fraudulent or utterly reckless debtor is, in the eye of reason, the first "wolfish" assailant of his brother.

    Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol 58, No. 357, July 1845 Various

  • I've seen him polish off four pounds of steak and mealy potatoes and then look round kind of wolfish, as much as to ask when dinner was going to begin!

    Indiscretions of Archie 1928

  • It was the most terrible war-shriek I had heard: a kind of wolfish baying that called up an image of all the dogs of war simultaneously tugging at their leashes.

    Fighting France 1915

Comments

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  • "In my spare time I knit sweaters for salmon", said Tom wolfishly.

    July 22, 2008

  • Not a fish.

    September 1, 2021