as in brutality
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal
without law and order, society would quickly devolve into a state of animalism
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Recent Examples of animalism
Hope is something that Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri can related to, having explored the dualities of hope and despair (as well as lightness and darkness, and fluidity and animalism) in her spring 2023 collection.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025
All of a sudden, that animalism has been incarnated.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024
But what Cameron represents to Harper is unfettered animalism, and that’s part of what’s missing in her relationship with Ethan.
—Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2022
The Seven Commandments (Revised) of Orwellian Animalism:
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links.
—John Brownlee, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2007
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025
All of a sudden, that animalism has been incarnated.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024
But what Cameron represents to Harper is unfettered animalism, and that’s part of what’s missing in her relationship with Ethan.
—Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2022
The Seven Commandments (Revised) of Orwellian Animalism:
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links.
—John Brownlee, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2007
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animalism
Noun
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Yet, while Munro’s denial was a horrible violence, Fremlin’s deplorable acts were the original brutality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
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Nominations in the news, public service and radio/podcast categories span networks, from PBS to ABC and NBC News, with topics ranging from the Los Angeles wildfires to the war in Gaza, immigration and police brutality.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In other words, humans can act against the animal component of their nature and manifest their humanity by rejecting their animality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Nov. 2025
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This strangeness causes all sorts of internal agitation, an uneasiness about humanity’s closeness to animality.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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It will be used to invalidate our state laws and perpetuate a system of animal cruelty that predominantly serves the interests of factory farms.—
John Cleveland,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Animalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animalism. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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