Wolf — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈwu̇lf/

Meaning & Definition of Wolf

Wolf (noun)

  1. any of several large predatory canids (genus Canis) that are active mostly at night, live and hunt in packs, and resemble the related dogs; especially, gray wolf
  2. the fur of a wolf
  3. a fierce, rapacious, or destructive person

Wolf (verb)

  1. to eat greedily, devour

Wolf (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a man given to seducing women

    "she threatened to geld the wolf if he didn't stop making passes at her"

    similar: Casanova, Don Juan, lecher, lothario, lounge lizard, masher, philanderer, satyr, womanizer
    related: amorist, gallant, ladies' man, lady-killer, lover, paramour, Romeo, debaucher, romancer, seducer, whoremaster, whoremonger

  2. a person who habitually preys upon others

    "no sooner had the lottery winner's name been made public than the wolves with their investment schemes showed up on her doorstep"

    similar: bloodsucker, buzzard, harpy, kite, predator, shark, vampire, vulture
    related: exploiter, user, leech, sponge, sponger, destroyer, devourer
    opposite: prey

Wolf (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to swallow or eat greedily

    "don't wolf your food or you'll be sick"

    similar: bolt, cram, devour, glut (archaic), gobble, gorge, gormandize, gulp, ingurgitate, inhale, raven, scarf, scoff, slop
    related: overeat, pig out, swill
    near: nibble, peck, pick

Related Entry: Wolf dog (noun)

Wolf dog is a different word from Wolf. The synonyms below are for wolf dog, not for wolf.

  1. as in hunter, sled dog

    similar: bandog, bird dog, coonhound, courser, gundog, hunter, sheepdog, sled dog, watchdog, wolfhound, lapdog, pup, puppy, puppy dog, whelp, guide dog, police dog, working dog, bitch, cur, mongrel, mutt, canine, dog, doggy, hound, pooch, tyke

Related Entry: Wolf dogs (noun)

Wolf dogs is a different word from Wolf. The synonyms below are for wolf dogs, not for wolf.

  1. as in hunters, sled dogs

    similar: bandogs, bird dogs, coonhounds, coursers, gundogs, hunters, sheepdogs, sled dogs, watchdogs, wolfhounds, lapdogs, puppies, puppy dogs, pups, whelps, guide dogs, police dogs, working dogs, bitches, curs, mongrels, mutts, canines, doggies, dogs, hounds, pooches, tykes

Related Entry: Lone wolf (noun)

Lone wolf is a different word from Wolf. The synonyms below are for lone wolf, not for wolf.

  1. a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs

    "a lone wolf in the art world, he has his own style and paints only to please himself"

    similar: bohemian, boho, counterculturist, deviant, enfant terrible, free spirit, heretic, iconoclast, individualist, lone ranger, loner, maverick, nonconformer, nonconformist
    related: freethinker, character, codger, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, eccentric, freak, kook, nut, oddball, screwball, weirdo, eight ball, misfit, outsider, aberrant, anomaly
    opposite: conformer, conformist
    near: adherent, follower, supporter, sheep

Related Entry: Lone-wolf (adjective)

Lone-wolf is a different word from Wolf. The synonyms below are for lone-wolf, not for wolf.

  1. as in lone, antisocial

    similar: antisocial, lone, unsociable, unsocial, backward, bashful, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, modest, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, shy, withdrawn, awkward, embarrassed, self-conscious, unadventurous, unassertive, unenterprising, inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight
    opposite: extroverted, immodest, outgoing, boon, clubbable, companionable, convivial, gregarious, sociable, social, bold, dashing, forceful, brash, forward, overbold, uninhibited, unreserved

Related Entry: Cry (verb)

Cry is a different word from Wolf. The synonyms below are for cry, not for wolf.

  1. to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress

    "some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot"

    similar: bawl, blub (chiefly British), blubber, sob, weep
    related: greet (Scottish), grieve, keen, lament, mourn, howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl, bleat, mewl, pule, whimper, whine, sniffle, snivel, groan, moan, sigh

  2. to utter one's distinctive animal sound

    "we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying"

    similar: call, sing

  3. to speak so as to be heard at a distance

    "a mother crying for help"

    similar: bawl, bay, bellow, call, holler, hollo, roar, shout, sound off, thunder, vociferate, yell
    related: crow, whoop, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal, caterwaul, howl, ululate, wail, yawp, yowl, hail, speak out, speak up
    near: breathe, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper

Related Entry: Cry (out) (verb)

Cry (out) is a different word from Wolf. The synonyms below are for cry (out), not for wolf.

  1. to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling

    "I can't stand it! he cried out"

    similar: blat, blurt (out), bolt, ejaculate, exclaim
    related: blunder, leak, bellow, bleat, crow, holler, hoot, howl, roar, shout, whoop, yowl, aah, ooh, interject

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Wolf

The most common words with a similar meaning to Wolf:

Archaic: glut
Casanova, Don Juan, lecher, lothario, lounge lizard, masher, philanderer, satyr, womanizer, bloodsucker, buzzard, harpy, kite, predator, shark, vampire, vulture, bolt, cram, devour, gobble, gorge, gormandize, gulp, ingurgitate, inhale, raven, scarf, scoff, slop

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Wolf

Words with the opposite meaning of Wolf:

prey

Related Words for Wolf

amorist, gallant, ladies' man, lady-killer, lover, paramour, Romeo, debaucher, romancer, seducer, whoremaster, whoremonger, exploiter, user, leech, sponge, sponger, destroyer, devourer, overeat, pig out, swill

Near Antonyms of Wolf

nibble, peck, pick

Word Forms of Wolf

Inflections: wolves, wolfed, wolfing, wolfs

Derived words: wolflike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Wolf

Middle English, from Old English wulf; akin to Old High German wolf wolf, Latin lupus, Greek lykos

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Wolf

Words & Phrases Containing Wolf

wolf dog, wolf in sheep's clothing, wolf pack, wolf spider, wolf tree

Frequently Asked Questions about Wolf

What does "Wolf" mean?

"Wolf" means any of several large predatory canids (genus Canis) that are active mostly at night, live and hunt in packs, and resemble the related dogs; especially, gray wolf. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: any of several large predatory canids (genus Canis) that are active mostly at night, live and hunt in packs, and resemble the related dogs; especially, gray wolf. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Wolf"?

Other words for "Wolf" include Casanova, Don Juan, lecher, lothario, lounge lizard, masher, philanderer and satyr. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Wolf" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Wolf"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Wolf". Common alternatives include Casanova, Don Juan, lecher, lothario, lounge lizard, masher, philanderer, satyr, womanizer and bloodsucker.

What is the opposite of "Wolf"?

Antonyms of "Wolf" include prey. Near antonyms include nibble, peck and pick.

How do you use "Wolf" in a sentence?

Examples of "Wolf" in a sentence: "she threatened to geld the wolf if he didn't stop making passes at her"; "no sooner had the lottery winner's name been made public than the wolves with their investment schemes showed up on her doorstep"; "don't wolf your food or you'll be sick".

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

"Wolf" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Wolf" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Wolf" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Wolf"?

"Wolf" is pronounced /ˈwu̇lf/.