wereanimal

plural wereanimals

1. fantasyA shapeshifter that can change between human and some animal form, such as a werewolf or werebear.

   Lysander was speaking to a confused-looking wereanimal.

   2011, Brit Mandelo, Though Smoke Shall Hide the Sun: A Tor.Com Original, Tor Books, →ISBN

   3 more examples

   A peculiarity of were-animals is the sympathy that exists between their animal form and that of the human with whom it is connected.

   1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 121

   His otherworldly energy danced along my skin, and as had happened in New Mexico with a very different wereanimal, it called that piece of Richard's beast that seemed to live inside me. It brought that power in a rush down my skin, ...

   2001, J. D. Robb, Laurell K. Hamilton, Susan Krinard, Maggie Shayne, Out of this World, Penguin, →ISBN

   “You're a fool, Todd. You didn't need anything to protect you,” Muriel said. “Ray was killed by a wereanimal.” “They have the wereanimal that killed Ray locked up. He can't hurt anyone anymore,” she said.

   2020, Laurell K. Hamilton, Sucker Punch, Penguin, →ISBN, page 77

   Synonyms: werebeast, werecreature