hirsute

USAGE SUMMARY

"hirsute" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective meaning "covered with hair" or "hairy." For example, you could say, "The hirsute orangutan was a beautiful sight to behold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BBC London's hirsute new weather presenter Sadiq Iqbal proves key to Bame – black, Asian and minority ethnic – targets, so he's "viralised" by Siobhan, using the hashtag #beardyweather, to highlight his ethnic credentials.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Cavor is white-coated, facially hirsute and occasionally ditsy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's only the poem, performed by a wild, hirsute Garfield, that feels like a complete misstep.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The lower that scoundrel scoops, the more hirsute he gets and he hit his hairiest lurking in the hospital corridors, suggesting Linda called "their" son Kevin.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

If memory serves (and since I only watched it again on DVD two weeks ago it probably does) these great mechanical beasts are brought crashing to earth by the Ewoks, a tribe of stocky, hirsute, primitive and fiery little creatures who seem to have been the inspiration behind Gennaro Gattuso.

The Guardian - Sport

Their leader (Gary Oldman) favours driving in, guns blazing, but an engineer (Jason Clarke) believes that he can foster some fellow feeling between the hirsute and not-so-hirsute settlements.Alas, peace proves to be horribly precarious, which is good news for anyone in the mood for explosions, shoot-outs and acrobatic ape-on-ape punch-ups.

The Economist

Even now, several of Mrs Merkel's Bavarian allies barely disguise their perception of the Greens as hirsute hippies.

The Economist

Mikkel Svane, Zendesk's hirsute boss, talks glowingly of his partnership with the city.In this section Those pension blues Growing pains United States of Amoeba Choose me! No, me! Tales from the streets Not even past Why Americans are so angry Correction: Hunting with drones ReprintsBut Mr Castleberg has moved out.

The Economist

One pitch was to The Economist, who gave him a one-day trial and  a brief to draw Denis Healey, a politician well known for his extravagantly hirsute eyebrows.

The Economist

When not confused with mountaineers, they might have conjured up images of hirsute, pot-addled, do-nothing "dudes" living out of vans in picturesque rocky locales.

The Economist

DAVID CHAVERN has been looking at a photograph of hirsute twenty-somethings and fretting.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hirsute" to add a touch of formality or precision when describing someone or something as hairy. It's particularly effective in scientific or literary contexts where a more elevated tone is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "hirsute" in casual conversations where the simpler adjective "hairy" would suffice. Overusing formal terms can make your writing sound pretentious or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The word "hirsute" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they are covered in hair or are hairy. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with multiple examples of "hirsute" used to describe people, animals, and even objects in a figurative sense.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hirsute" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective that denotes hairiness or being covered in hair. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. While it is a more formal synonym for the common word "hairy", it's not interchangeable in every context; it fits best in more formal writing. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Encyclopedias. When aiming for clarity and precision, especially in scientific or literary contexts, consider using "hirsute" to impart a distinct descriptive quality. However, be mindful to avoid overuse in casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hairy

A more common and general synonym for "hirsute".

pilose

A more technical term indicating hairiness.

bearded

Specifically refers to having a beard, a type of facial hair.

bearded

Emphasizes the presence of a beard.

whiskered

Describes someone with prominent whiskers or facial hair.

shaggy

Suggests long, unkempt hair or fur.

fluffy

Refers to soft, light, and airy hair or fur.

downy

Indicates the presence of fine, soft hair or feathers.

fleecy

Suggests a thick, soft covering resembling fleece.

pubescent

Refers to being covered in short soft hair.

FAQs

How to use "hirsute" in a sentence?

You can use "hirsute" to describe someone or something covered in hair. For example, "The professor was known for his hirsute appearance" or "The hirsute caterpillar crawled along the branch."

What can I say instead of "hirsute"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "hairy", "bearded", or "shaggy".

Is "hirsute" typically used to describe people or animals?

"Hirsute" can be used to describe both people and animals, but it is more often used in formal or descriptive writing to denote a significant amount of hair.

What is the difference between "hirsute" and "hairy"?

"Hirsute" is a more formal and less common term than "hairy". While both describe the presence of hair, "hirsute" often suggests a greater abundance or coarseness of hair and is typically used in more formal contexts.