catlike

adjective or adverb

cat·​like ˈkat-ˌlīk 

: resembling a cat

especially : stealthy

With catlike tread, / Upon our prey we steal …

—W. S. Gilbert

Examples of catlike in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The great eared nightjar is a nocturnal bird that resembles a fluffy dragon Great eared nightjars can be found in the woodlands of Southeast Asia The birds build their nests on the forest floor Ever wondered what a small, fluffy dragon with catlike ears looks like? — Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

For years, his default expression for the cameras was a catlike, impish grin. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025

Woman Adopts Cat, Then Notices Dog Acting Strange By Rachael O'Connor Life and Trends Reporter 0 A woman who adopted a cat soon noticed that her dog had started changing her behavior—to become oddly catlike. — Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025

To be sure, Hopkins delivers a lively performance, with Goode suffering from the limitations of Brown and St. Germain’s script, under which Jack is little more than a mouse being toyed with by Sigmund’s catlike arguments and intellect. — Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for catlike

• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich
• godlike
• hairlike
• homelike

Kids Definition

catlike

adjective or adverb

cat·​like ˈkat-ˌlīk 

: resembling a cat especially in being quick and silent