: a large, broad-headed, wide-muzzled wolf (Canis lupus) that has a dense, heavy coat of usually light brown or brownish gray interspersed with black above and yellowish white below and that was formerly widely distributed throughout North America and Eurasia but is now greatly restricted to the more northerly parts of its range
The only sizable gray wolf population south of Canada and Alaska continues to roam the forest-and-lake country of northern Minnesota.—Vic Banks
Note:
The gray wolf has been considered a threat to livestock and people for hundreds of years and has been wiped out from most of its original range by hunting, trapping, and poisoning.
called alsotimber wolf
Illustration of gray wolf
Examples of gray wolf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMeanwhile, wildlife advocate groups have filed a lawsuit to list the gray wolf in the multi-state northern Rocky Mountain region as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.—Caitlin Tan, NPR, 1 June 2024 The hunter learned through subsequent DNA testing that the animal was actually a gray wolf, which are normally found exclusively in the state's Upper Peninsula, CBS Detroit reported, citing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 May 2024 It’s been more than 100 years since a gray wolf was spotted as south in Michigan as Calhoun County, WJBK reported.—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024 Read Next Wandering Mexican gray wolf captured in New Mexico — for second time.—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gray wolf
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gray wolf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Share