Meaning & use
sheep-like
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparabledisapproving
Resembling a sheep in appearance or behavior, especially in being easily led or unwilling to think independently.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: 'sheep-like behavior', 'They were sheep-like.'
Patterns
- sheep-like behavior
- be sheep-like
The crowd followed the leader with sheep-like obedience.
His sheep-like acceptance of every rule annoyed his friends.
She criticized the sheep-like conformity of the group.
adjectivenot comparable
Literally looking like a sheep, for example in face or woolly texture.
Grammar: Often used in descriptions of animals or clouds.
Patterns
- sheep-like face
- sheep-like clouds
The puppy had a soft, sheep-like coat.
We saw sheep-like clouds drifting across the sky.
The mask gave him a strange, sheep-like appearance.
Common combinations
- sheep-like conformity
- She disliked the sheep-like conformity of the office.
- sheep-like obedience
- He showed sheep-like obedience to his boss.
- sheep-like behavior
- The teacher warned against sheep-like behavior.
Synonyms and how they differ
- docile
- Means easily controlled, but without the negative idea of lacking independent thought.
- submissive
- Focuses on yielding to authority; 'sheep-like' adds the image of foolishly following others.
Opposites
Word family
- sheep noun
- A farm animal kept for wool and meat.
Commonly confused: sheep-like or sheepish?
sheep-like vs sheepish
Means embarrassed or shy, not like a sheep. 'He gave a sheepish smile' = he looked embarrassed.
Practice
The critic described the voters as ______, following whatever the media said.
Choose one answer.
'Sheep-like' fits because it means unthinkingly following others. 'Sheepish' means embarrassed; 'sheepishly' is an adverb; 'sheep' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sheep-like”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.