werewolf
noun
ˈwir-
ˈwər-
ˈwir-
Did you know?
Although English sometimes makes use of other words for howling humanoid beasties, werewolf is the leader of the pack. It’s also an ancient word, tracing all the way back to the Old English werwulf, and before that to a prehistoric predecessor that also left its paw prints on German (Werwolf) and Dutch (weerwolf). Synonyms for werewolf in English include the obscure lycanthrope, which has roots in two Greek words (lykos, meaning "wolf," and anthrōpos, meaning "human being"), and loup-garou, which comes from Old French. Whichever you use, the lycanthropic creatures these words refer to most often assume wolf form during a full moon—at least in works of fiction. There are no credible studies to date on the behavior of real-life werewolves, as scientists have yet to find the silver bullet that proves they exist.
Examples of werewolf in a Sentence
Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
The director started thinking about the project a decade ago while working at Glass Eye Pix, the film company founded by director and indie horror legend Larry Fessenden (Habit, the upcoming werewolf movie Blackout).
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 13 Nov. 2023
The series is set in Bon Temps, Louisiana, where vampires, werewolves and more mystical creatures roamed rampant.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Along with Donnelly and Manheim, Chandler Kinney and Kylee Russell will return as werewolf Willa and zombie Eliza.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 10 Feb. 2024
Remus Lupin, Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and werewolf.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Think 2008's Twilight was the first movie in which vampires warred with werewolves?
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 19 Sep. 2023
Buy Now 13 of 15 'Bride' by Ali Hazelwood
An outcast Vampyre named Misery is forced to marry a werewolf to keep the peace in this buzzy new supernatural romance.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024
Cast: Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Omri Katz, Thora Birch
There's a luxury hotel hidden away in the Transylvania hills full to the rafters with vampires, werewolves, zombies, and everything else that goes bump in the night.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'werewolf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near werewolf
Cite this Entry
“Werewolf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/werewolf. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
werewolf
noun
ˈwe(ə)r-
ˈwər-
Old English werwulf "werewolf," from wer "man" and wulf "wolf"
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