bear-like man

USAGE SUMMARY

"bear-like man" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a man who has physical characteristics or qualities reminiscent of a bear, such as size, strength, or demeanor. An example could be: "He was a bear-like man, with broad shoulders and a thick beard." Alternative expressions include "bearish man" and "man resembling a bear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

David Kaczynski, a bear-like man, seemed to dwarf his mother, who had a look of slight confusion on her face, as they stepped off the escalator with their lawyer, Anthony P. Bisceglie.

The New York Times

A big, bear-like man, occasionally dramatic, always highly articulate, and approachable in conversation, he came to the post with the experience of having been a teacher in the East End in addition to his many years on various councils.

The Guardian

I do care about people and it's very dangerous for a writer to shut himself away.' There is a genuine warmth that comes across from this big, bear-like man as he talks, his laugh rich and tarry from years of smoking.

The Guardian - Books

The boom of flintlock muskets would be replaced by the orgasmic moan of a big, bear-like man with long strands of ass hair.

Vice

It's different and several cuts above the usual genres". "You can talk about a science-fiction genre, but, of course, it's far more than that," said Black, a tall, bear-like man with Victorian-era muttonchop whiskers.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Rees was a quiet and thoughtful, bear-like bearded man with an unwavering commitment to new theatre which he developed while living in New York in the mid-60s and completing a PhD on the black activist Marcus Garvey at Columbia University.

The Guardian

Should it be a more bear-like werewolf, or a more man-like werewolf.

WikiHow

The corpus has vanished from the most corporeal of our rituals — and we are left standing with our hands outstretched and taut but with no counterweight to bear, like the man on the riverbank holding air.

The New York Times - Magazine

Is a man meant to be bear-like and squishy?

Vice

Say something like "Man!!

WikiHow

May I never have a husband with a girl's face, but one that bears him like a man!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this expression to evoke a specific mental image of warmth, size or formidable strength depending on the surrounding modifiers like big or gentle.

Common error

In certain modern contexts, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities, the term bear has a very specific identity meaning. If you are writing a general description, ensure the context clearly points toward physical stature to avoid unintended specific connotations.

Linguistic Context

In a sentence, "bear-like man" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. The component "bear-like" is a compound adjective formed by a noun and a suffix-like element, which modifies the head noun "man". According to Ludwig AI, this structure is a standard way to attribute animalistic physical qualities to a human subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bear-like man" is a highly effective descriptive tool in the English language, primarily utilized to evoke a sense of physical bulk and strength. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently appears in reputable journalistic outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian. While the term is classified as relatively rare in terms of total frequency, its high-quality usage across authoritative sources makes it a reliable choice for writers seeking to provide vivid characterization. It is important to maintain the hyphenated form for clarity and to be mindful of context, as synonyms like "burly man" or "sturdy gentleman" may offer different nuances of formality or attribute focus. Overall, Ludwig suggests that "bear-like man" remains a standard and evocative part of the English lexicon for describing large-statured individuals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burly man

Focuses more on muscularity and heavy build rather than specifically comparing him to an animal.

man with a bearish build

Uses a prepositional phrase to describe the physique explicitly rather than using a compound adjective.

brawny man

Emphasizes physical strength and large muscles more than overall stature or appearance.

robust man

Implies health and vigor alongside a large physical frame.

imposing man

Highlights the psychological effect of his size and presence rather than just his physical appearance.

sturdy gentleman

Adds a layer of politeness and formal character to the description of a solid build.

rugged man

Suggests a weathered or tough physical appearance often associated with outdoor activity.

hirsute man

A formal term focusing specifically on hairiness which is one aspect of being bear-like.

powerful figure

More abstract and formal, focusing on the strength represented by the person body.

heavyset individual

A neutral, clinical way to describe someone who is large or stocky.

FAQs

How to use "bear-like man" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone with a large or powerful frame, for example: "The security guard was a "bear-like man" who occupied the entire doorway."

What can I say instead of "bear-like man"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "burly man", "bearish man" or even "strapping fellow".

Is it "bear-like man" or "bear of a man"?

Both are correct. While "bear-like man" acts as a descriptive adjective-noun phrase, "bear of a man" is a common idiomatic expression that serves a similar purpose.

Is the hyphen necessary in "bear-like man"?

Yes, when "bear-like" acts as a compound modifier before the noun "man", the hyphen is used to link the words and clarify that they together modify the person's description.