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grizzly

grizzly

57 3.9
A large brownish-gray bear in western North America with a hump on its shoulder
  • noun
  • /ˈɡrɪzli/
  • US
translation icon : oso pardo
  • As the shot echoed across the flat, the grizzly dropped to all fours.
  • grizzly bear
  • grizzlies and wolves
  • prey of grizzlies

If you happen to pitch a tent near a bunch of grizzly bears, it's game over.

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Examples

  • While hiking in Montana, we spotted a large grizzly bear rummaging through the bushes.

  • After several hours at one location, you will probably move to a different grizzly habitat.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Which is the great California grizzly.

  • Like I would rather see a grizzly than a pack of wolves.

  • A hunter goes into the woods, and he sees this grizzly.

  • If you happen to pitch a tent near a bunch of grizzly bears, it's game over.

  • One day, a grizzly walked by about sixty feet away, but we ignored each other.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Flick says he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski's candy store.

  • The predation of moose by grizzly bears has also caused a decrease in population.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Yellowstone was at the center of a heated debate over various proposals to manage the park's grizzlies.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

bear
vsgrizzly
957 1.0

A large heavy animal with thick fur and strong claws

is a specific powerful upland member of that wider mammal family
grizzly bear
vsgrizzly
  • US
22 3.1

A large, powerful brown bear that lives in mountains and forests in western North America

is the shorter, informal form of the same name
brown bear
vsgrizzly
6 1.9

A large, powerful wild animal with brown fur that lives in forests in Asia and North America

is the narrower upland North American form of that wider species
Ursus arctos horribilis
vsgrizzly
  • Specialized
8.9

A large brown bear called the grizzly that lives in western North America

is the common descriptive name for the same upland North American animal
Ursus horribilis
vsgrizzly
  • Specialized
8.2

A large strong brown bear that lives in western North America called a grizzly bear

is the everyday descriptive name for that same animal
silvertip
vsgrizzly
  • US
9.5

A large brown bear with silver-tipped fur found in western North America

is the broader name for that same powerful upland animal
silver-tip
vsgrizzly
  • US
9.0

A large brown bear with light fur on its head in the mountains of western North America

is the more general descriptive name for that animal
Ursus arctos
vsgrizzly
  • Specialized
7.9

A large brown bear that lives in Europe, Asia and North America

is the specific upland North American form rather than the whole species

Compounds

22 3.1

A large, powerful brown bear that lives in mountains and forests in western North America

How Fierce

grizzly
  • US
57 3.9
bear
957 1.0
skunk bear
  • US
9.8
badger
33 1.4
weasel
42 1.0

Surface Forms

grizzly singular
grizzlies plural

Morphology

grizzly = grizzle (semi-transparent) = grizzle + y

The adjective is formed regularly from 'grizzle' + '-y', but 'grizzle' is relatively uncommon and the noun 'grizzly' for the bear is a lexicalized extension.

Etymology

The word grizzly comes from an old word grizzled, meaning 'streaked with gray', and is related to the simple word gray. So a grizzly bear is named for its grayish fur.