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Synonyms

bearish

American  
[bair-ish] / ˈbɛər ɪʃ /

adjective

  1. like a bear; rough, burly, or clumsy.

  2. Informal. grumpy, bad-mannered, or rude.

  3. Commerce.

    1. declining or tending toward a decline in prices.

    2. characterized by or reflecting unfavorable prospects for the economy or some aspect of it.

      a bearish market.
bearish British  
/ ˈbɛərɪʃ /

adjective

  1. like a bear; rough; clumsy; churlish

  2. stock exchange causing, expecting, or characterized by a fall in prices

    a bearish market
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of bearish

First recorded in 1735–45; bear 2 + -ish 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bearish RSI divergence occurred in January and February: the relative strength index made a lower high while price carved out a higher high, suggesting momentum was waning.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

“As we’ve noted before, geopolitical crises tend to create buying opportunities in the stock market. Bearish sentiment is likely to soar in the coming days, which should work as a contrarian buy signal.” he says.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Bearish odds might pressure sellers into a rushed sale, for instance, potentially leaving money on the table.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Bearish filled-in candles were recorded after earnings on Feb. 7 and Aug. 6.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025

Bearish, Orin Stanton certainly was, whether one did or did not find the quality adorable.

From The Philistines by Bates, Arlo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.