Woolly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈwu̇-lē/ wool·ly

Meaning & Definition of Woolly

Woolly (adjective)

  1. resembling wool
  2. of, relating to, or bearing wool
  3. lacking in clearness or sharpness of outline

Woolly (noun)

  1. a garment made from wool; especially, underclothing of knitted wool —usually used in plural
  2. sheep

Woolly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. made of or resembling hair

    "the dog's woolly coat will require a lot of grooming"

    similar: furry, fuzzy, hairy, rough, shaggy
    related: downy, fluffy, nappy, puffy, hairlike

  2. covered with or as if with hair

    "still had a water bed and a woolly coverlet on top of it"

    similar: bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hairy, hirsute, rough, shaggy, silky, unshorn
    related: bearded, bewhiskered, mustachioed, whiskered, stubbled, stubbly, downy, fluffy, fuzzy, linty, nappy
    opposite: bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth
    near: beardless, shaved, shaven

Related Entry: Wild and woolly (phrase)

Wild and woolly is a different word from Woolly. The synonyms below are for wild and woolly, not for woolly.

  1. being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way

    "The grandparents watched the wild and woolly twins run around in the back yard."

    similar: boisterous, hell-raising, knockabout, rambunctious, raucous, robustious, roisterous, rollicking, rowdy, rumbustious (chiefly British)
    related: callithumpian, carnival, carnivalesque, larrikin (chiefly Australian), raffish, rampageous, raucous, riotous, rowdyish, ruffianly, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, violent, headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, uncontrollable, uncontrolled, undisciplined, ungovernable, uninhibited, unmanageable, unreserved, unrestrained, unruly, wild, willful, bubbly, buoyant, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, impassioned, lively, sprightly, vivacious, clamorous, loudmouthed, noisy, open-mouthed, rackety, strident, vociferous, howling, screaming, yelling
    opposite: orderly
    near: sedate, sober, solemn, somber, staid, decorous, dignified, proper, seemly, calm, hushed, noiseless, peaceful, placid, quiet, restrained, serene, silent, soundless, tranquil, collected, composed, constrained, controlled, imperturbable, inhibited, repressed, self-controlled, unflappable, unruffled, moderate, reasonable, subdued, temperate, impassive, phlegmatic, stoic, stolid, depressed, aloof, detached, indifferent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Woolly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Woolly:

furry, fuzzy, hairy, rough, shaggy, bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, hirsute, silky, unshorn

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Woolly

Words with the opposite meaning of Woolly:

bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth

Related Words for Woolly

downy, fluffy, nappy, puffy, hairlike, bearded, bewhiskered, mustachioed, whiskered, stubbled, stubbly, linty

Near Antonyms of Woolly

beardless, shaved, shaven

Word Forms of Woolly

Inflections: woollier, woolliest, woollies, woolies

Derived words: woollily (adverb), woolliness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Woolly

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Woolly

woolly adelgid, woolly aphid, woolly bear, woolly-headed, woolly mammoth, woolly monkey, woolly spider monkey, wild and woolly

Frequently Asked Questions about Woolly

What does "Woolly" mean?

"Woolly" means resembling wool. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: resembling wool. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Woolly"?

Other words for "Woolly" include furry, fuzzy, hairy, rough, shaggy, bristly, brushy and cottony. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Woolly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Woolly"?

There are 25 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Woolly". Common alternatives include furry, fuzzy, hairy, rough, shaggy, bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy and furred.

What is the opposite of "Woolly"?

Antonyms of "Woolly" include bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn and smooth. Near antonyms include beardless, shaved and shaven.

How do you use "Woolly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Woolly" in a sentence: "the dog's woolly coat will require a lot of grooming"; "still had a water bed and a woolly coverlet on top of it".

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

"Woolly" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Woolly"?

"Woolly" is pronounced /ˈwu̇-lē/ and divided into syllables as wool·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Woolly"?

First known use: 15th century.