Bearish — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈber-ish/ bear·ish

Meaning & Definition of Bearish

Bearish (adjective)

  1. resembling a bear in build or in roughness, gruffness, or surliness
  2. marked by, tending to cause, or fearful of falling prices (as in a stock market)
  3. pessimistic

Bearish (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. emphasizing or expecting the worst

    "some studio execs are bearish about this summer's box office"

    similar: defeatist, despairing, downbeat, hopeless, pessimistic
    related: cynical, fatalistic, nihilist, nihilistic, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, inauspicious, unlikely, unpromising, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, morose, saturnine, sepulchral, somber, sullen, grim, contrary, hostile, negative
    opposite: hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat
    near: auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious, cheering, comforting, reassuring, favorable, good, positive, idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary, cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunny

  2. having or showing a habitually bad temper

    "a bearish recluse who ordered everyone to stay off his property"

    similar: acid, bilious, bloody-minded (chiefly British), cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic, surly
    related: choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous, irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed, angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight, depressed, dour, glum, morose, sullen, anal, old-maidish, schoolmarmish
    opposite: amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered
    near: agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious, content, glad, happy, calm, placid, serene, long-suffering, patient, tolerant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bearish

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bearish:

Chiefly British: bloody-minded
defeatist, despairing, downbeat, hopeless, pessimistic, acid, bilious, cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic, surly

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bearish

Words with the opposite meaning of Bearish:

hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat, amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered

Related Words for Bearish

cynical, fatalistic, nihilist, nihilistic, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, inauspicious, unlikely, unpromising, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, morose, saturnine, sepulchral, somber, sullen, grim, contrary, hostile, negative, choleric, crabby

Near Antonyms of Bearish

auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious, cheering, comforting, reassuring, favorable, good, positive, idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary, cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunny, agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle

Word Forms of Bearish

Derived words: bearishly (adverb), bearishness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bearish

First known use: 1607

Frequently Asked Questions about Bearish

What does "Bearish" mean?

"Bearish" means resembling a bear in build or in roughness, gruffness, or surliness. As an adjective, it is defined as: resembling a bear in build or in roughness, gruffness, or surliness. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bearish"?

Other words for "Bearish" include defeatist, despairing, downbeat, hopeless, pessimistic, acid, bilious and bloody-minded. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bearish" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bearish"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bearish". Common alternatives include defeatist, despairing, downbeat, hopeless, pessimistic, acid, bilious, bloody-minded, cantankerous and disagreeable.

What is the opposite of "Bearish"?

Antonyms of "Bearish" include hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish, rose-colored, rosy and upbeat. Near antonyms include auspicious, bright, encouraging and fair.

How do you use "Bearish" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bearish" in a sentence: "some studio execs are bearish about this summer's box office"; "a bearish recluse who ordered everyone to stay off his property".

Is "Bearish" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bearish" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Bearish"?

"Bearish" is pronounced /ˈber-ish/ and divided into syllables as bear·ish.

What is the origin of the word "Bearish"?

First known use: 1607.