grizzly bear

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noun

a large North American brown bear, Ursus (arctos) horribilis, with coarse, gray-tipped brown fur, once widespread in the western part of the continent as far south as northern Mexico but now restricted to some regions of Alaska, western Canada, and the U.S. Rocky Mountains: a threatened species except in Alaska.

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Also grizzly.

Also called silvertip.

Compare brown bear.

Origin of grizzly bear

First recorded in 1685–95

Words nearby grizzly bear

grivet, grizzle, grizzled, grizzling, grizzly, grizzly bear, gro., groan, groaner, groat, groats

How to use grizzly bear in a sentence

Imagine sharing an area bigger than Maryland with no one but grizzly bears, wolves, and a few dozen visitors.
15 National Park Trails to Add to Your Bucket List|elessard|August 6, 2021|Outside Online
Since it’s located near Glacier National Park, there are large predators like grizzly bears and wolves in the immediate vicinity, but the lake it’s located on also freezes over in the winter, and that ice is often of dubious thickness.
The Unsuccessful Intersection of Dogs and Technology|wsiler|July 17, 2021|Outside Online
When she gets less sleep, it’s like living with a grizzly bear.
Nap Time for Everyone! (Ep. 468)|Stephen J. Dubner|July 8, 2021|Freakonomics
She learned how to do experiments, with close calls with grizzly bears and other mishaps along the way, eventually becoming a tenured professor.
An ecologist’s new book gets at the root of trees’ social lives|Cori Vanchieri|June 28, 2021|Science News

The relationship between photographers and habituated grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone region has also been an issue.
The Ethics of Wildlife Photography|Mike Koshmrl|April 14, 2021|Outside Online
“If Charleston harbor needs improvement, let the commerce of Charleston bear the burden,” he said.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern|Lloyd Green|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He said, “I am breaking my heart over this story, and cannot bear to finish it.”
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once again he accused the West of being unfair to Russia, bringing back his favorite metaphor, the Russian bear.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe our dear bear should sit quietly, not chase piglets and just eat berries and honey.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Putin suggested that all the West wanted was to turn the Russian bear into “taxidermy.”
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many British Ferns evidence a marked tendency to “sport,” and this is a fact which the beginner should always bear in mind.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
The bear laughed and joined his companion, and the torpedo thundered away.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
This may be done by taking the humming tone and bringing to bear upon it a strong pressure of energy.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The left heel followed like lightning, and the right paw also slipped, letting the bear again fall heavily on the ice below.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
The bear watched him narrowly with its wicked little eyes, though it did not see fit to cease its paw-licking.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for grizzly bear

grizzly bear

noun

a variety of the brown bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, formerly widespread in W North America; its brown fur has cream or white hair tips on the back, giving a grizzled appearanceOften shortened to: grizzly

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