Phrase guide

dire wolf

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: /ˈdaɪ.ɚ wʊlf/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdaɪə wʊlf/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An extinct canine (†Aenocyon dirus) from the Pleistocene epoch, heavier and slightly larger than the modern grey wolf.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of warg (“type of wolf”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: fantasy

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: warg

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque from taxonomic name †Canis dirus.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: reuzenwolf — extinct canine
  • Finnish: hirviösusi — extinct canine
  • Greek: ανταρόλυκος (antarólykos) — extinct canine
  • Icelandic: gramúlfur — extinct canine
  • Icelandic: ógnarúlfur — extinct canine
  • Japanese: ダイアウルフ (daiaurufu) — extinct canine
  • Korean: 다이어울프 (daieoulpeu) — extinct canine
  • Latin: canis dirus — extinct canine
  • Lezgi: буьтён жанавур (bütën žanavur) — extinct canine
  • Polish: wilk straszny — extinct canine
  • Portuguese: lobo-terrível — extinct canine
  • Russian: ужа́сный во́лк (užásnyj vólk) — extinct canine
  • Spanish: lobo gigante — extinct canine
  • Spanish: lobo terrible — extinct canine
  • Swedish: jättevarg — extinct canine
  • Swedish: skräckvarg — extinct canine
  • Turkish: ulukurt — extinct canine