catlike

American

[kat-lahyk] / ˈkætˌlaɪk /

adjective

resembling or typical of a cat.

catlike eyes.
swift and graceful.
stealthy and noiseless.

The scouts crept up on their quarry with catlike tread.

Etymology

Origin of catlike

First recorded in 1590–1600; cat ( def. ) + -like

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.

She moved slowly, catlike, and seemed not too concerned.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2023

There’s all kinds of stuff that has tried to be a bit catlike in different ways—mongooses, things like that.

From Scientific American • Oct. 4, 2023

But the slower movement then makes the robot look sleepy or catlike.

From BBC • May 4, 2023

I love how she slinks catlike between the beat in “Nasty,” then takes a sharp turn á droite and arrests you with a “My name ain’t baby, it’s Janet — Miss Jackson if you’re nasty!”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2022

Their walk was catlike, a gait that seemed constantly on the edge of shifting into a crouch.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

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