sun bear
noun
: a small forest-dwelling bear (Ursus malayanus synonym Helarctos malayanus) of southeastern Asia that has short glossy black fur with a lighter muzzle and often an orange or white breast mark
Examples of sun bear in a Sentence
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Towards the beginning of his career, Attenborough developed a deep connection with a young Malaysian sun bear cub named Benjamin in 1956.
—
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Bears in hotter climates where food is available year-round, like the Southeast Asian sun bear or the South American spectacled bear, do not go into torpor.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 11 Feb. 2026
Read Next World Rare creatures — from sun bears to pangolins — recorded in Cambodia park.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
This was where others posting on the mammal-watching website reported seeing some of the rarest wildlife, including tree-dwelling clouded leopards and diminutive sun bears, the smallest species of bear in the world.
—Mihir Zaveri, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
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Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Bears in hotter climates where food is available year-round, like the Southeast Asian sun bear or the South American spectacled bear, do not go into torpor.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 11 Feb. 2026
Read Next World Rare creatures — from sun bears to pangolins — recorded in Cambodia park.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
This was where others posting on the mammal-watching website reported seeing some of the rarest wildlife, including tree-dwelling clouded leopards and diminutive sun bears, the smallest species of bear in the world.
—Mihir Zaveri, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sun bear
Cite this Entry
“Sun bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sun%20bear. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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