catlike

catlike — adjective

1. having the appearance or qualities of a cat, especially the ability to move in a

1.形容詞B2
釋義

having the appearance or qualities of a cat, especially the ability to move in a quiet, smooth, and quick way

例句

The old dancer still moved across the stage with catlike grace, barely making a sound.

collocation: catlike grace

Ravi's catlike reflexes saved the antique vase from smashing on the floor.

collocation: catlike reflexes

同義詞
  • feline

    more technical or literary; refers to the cat family rather than describing cat-like qualities

  • graceful

    focuses on smooth beauty of movement without the cat comparison

  • stealthy

    emphasizes secrecy and silence, often implying sneaking

  • agile

    stresses quickness and ease of movement without the cat-specific connection

  • lithe

    describes a flexible, slender body that moves easily — often used for athletes and dancers

反義詞
  • clumsy

    describes movement that is awkward and lacks smoothness

  • awkward

    suggests stiffness and lack of grace

  • ungainly

    describes movement that looks heavy and uncontrolled

文法句型

catlike + noun

be + catlike

用法筆記

Most commonly used with nouns describing movement (grace, tread, reflexes, agility) or physical features (eyes). Carries a generally positive or admiring tone when describing movement, and a neutral tone when describing appearance.

常見錯誤

❌My sister was being very catlike when she said those unkind things.
✅My sister was being very catty when she said those unkind things.
💡catlike means 'resembling a cat'; catty means 'spiteful or mean in a subtle way.'
❌The catlike creature purred in my lap.
✅The feline creature purred in my lap.
💡catlike compares a non-cat to a cat; for actual cats, use feline.