woolly bear

noun

: any of various rather large very hairy moth caterpillars
especially : one of a tiger moth

Examples of woolly bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Getty Images One way people have tried to look into the future is to look at the woolly worm or woolly bear caterpillar. — Ray Petelin, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Perhaps no autumn weather forecaster is more famous than the woolly bear caterpillar. — Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2026 The National Weather Service noted a second version that says seeing woolly bear's crawling in a southerly direction means are trying to escape the cold winter conditions of the north. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2026 People ascribe weather-predicting abilities to other species, too, including woolly bear caterpillars, sheep, cats and dormice. — Steven Sullivan, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for woolly bear

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of woolly bear was circa 1841

Rhymes for woolly bear

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Browse Nearby Words

woolly apple aphid
woolly bear
woolly beard grass
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Cite this Entry

“Woolly bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woolly%20bear. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

woolly bear

noun
: any of various rather large very hairy moth caterpillars
especially : one that is the larva of a tiger moth
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