bearlike

Bearlike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles a bear in appearance or behavior. Common bearlike traits include a stocky, robust body; a broad head and short neck; a pronounced snout; thick fur; and a plantigrade gait with strong, non-retractile claws. Behaviorally, bearlike entities may show omnivorous foraging, digging, or a tendency to stand on hind legs, features that evoke a bear’s silhouette or locomotion.

The term is formed from bear plus -like, and both bearlike and bear-like spellings are found. In scientific writing, bearlike is a descriptive, non-technical word; specialists typically use more precise terms such as ursine to refer to bears (family Ursidae) or to describe specific anatomical features. Bearlike descriptions may be used for fossil taxa or cast materials when there is resemblance to bears but insufficient evidence for a definitive classification.

In literature and popular culture, bearlike is common to indicate a creature that resembles a bear without being one, such as a mythic beast or a fictional character. The word thus serves as a flexible, non-taxonomic descriptor for likeness to bears, rather than a strict scientific category.