WordGarden.iowolfishly
B2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /wˈʊlfɪʃli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a lustfully predatory or leering way
in a ravenously hungry way, especially while eating
Beyond the definition
To do something "wolfishly" means to act with the fierce hunger and focus of a wolf, usually when eating. It suggests eating something very quickly and eagerly, with little care for manners. You might watch someone wolfishly finish a meal after a long day without food, or see a dog guard its bone wolfishly. While it most often describes the way someone eats, it can also describe a predatory or threatening way of looking at someone.
The image of a wolf tearing into its prey is at the heart of this word. It is not just about being hungry; it is about satisfying that hunger in a wild, uncontrolled way. Think less "polite dinner guest" and more "animal instinct." You would not usually hear someone described as wolfishly kind; the word is used for behavior driven by strong, sharp, and often selfish desire.
The word "wolfishly" evokes the image of a wolf—a creature known for its powerful appetite and relentless pursuit of prey. To act "wolfishly" is to do something with an unrestrained, almost savage eagerness. This is most often associated with eating, implying that someone is devouring food quickly and greedily, without pausing for breath or considering social etiquette. For example, "He ate his stew wolfishly, his eyes darting around as if afraid someone might take it away."
However, the term isn't limited to the dinner table. It is frequently used in literature to describe a predatory or sinister intensity in a person's expression or behavior. A character might smile wolfishly, suggesting a grin that is more threatening than friendly, or look wolfishly at a rival, indicating they are waiting for the right moment to strike. Whether describing a physical appetite or a metaphorical one, it implies a primal drive that overrides social graces.
The context is important: wolfishly almost always carries a slightly negative or unsettling connotation, suggesting a lack of refinement or control. It's rarely used to describe positive qualities like generosity or patience. While the word isn't common in everyday casual conversation, it adds vivid, animalistic imagery when you want to emphasize the raw, untamed nature of an action or a look. So, if something is done with the raw hunger of a predator—quickly, eagerly, and without restraint—it is being done wolfishly.
Examples
- 1
Hungry reaction
At the sight of the roast chicken, Ben smiled wolfishly and reached for the carving knife.
- 2
Flirtatious tone
He leaned across the table and winked wolfishly, as if the whole evening were a private joke.
- Usage
wolfishly can suggest playful but slightly sexual interest
- 3
Predatory behavior
In the novel, the moneylender watched the farmer wolfishly, waiting for him to fail.
See also
Similar
- predatorily
- ravenously
- greedily
Shades of meaning
- menacingly
- leeringly
- rapaciously
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- grin wolfishly
- smile wolfishly
- look wolfishly at someone
Word family
- wolfish
- wolf
Explore
- predatory behavior
- animal imagery
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- wolfishlyadverb