WordValebearish
expecting prices in a market to fall
In more detail
1. (adjective) expecting prices to fall, or wanting them to fall
2. (adjective) unfriendly or bad-tempered
3. (adjective) resembling or relating to a bear
Examples
- 1. The bearish trend in the stock market made investors nervous.
- 2. He gave me a bearish response when I asked for help.
- 3. The bearish coat of the animal helped it survive in cold winters.
How to use bearish
In financial contexts, bearish describes expectations that prices or markets will decline, forming a pair with bullish. Outside finance, it can mean unfriendly or resembling a bear in manner. The financial sense is most common in professional and news contexts, while the temperament sense is less frequent in modern English.
Common phrases
- bearish outlook
- bearish sentiment
- bearish market
- bearish on something
- bearish trend
Synonyms
pessimistic · negative · gloomy · unfriendly · gruff
Opposites
bullish · optimistic · friendly
Word family
bear (noun) · bearishly (adverb) · bearishness (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse bearish with bullish; remember that bearish (like a bear) suggests a downward trend or gloomy outlook, while bullish suggests optimism and upward movement.
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