Synonyms of bestial

bestial

adjective

ˈbes-chəl 

as in brute

having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal

an apocalyptic sci-fi classic in which a lone drifter fights to avoid the bestial existence lived by the mass of survivors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brute
• brutal
• feral
• animalistic
• brutish
• subhuman
• animal
• savage
• beastly
• cruel
• vicious
• physical
• sensual
• swinish
• ferine
• carnal
• corporeal
• barbarous
• coarse
• corporal
• sadistic
• rude
• barbaric
• bodily
• crass
• vulgar
• inhumane
• heartless
• fleshly
• gross
• uncouth
• crude
• uncultured
• wanton
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• ill-bred
• lowbred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• noble
• sublime
• high
• chivalrous
• spiritual
• lofty
• gallant
• magnanimous
• elevated
• angelic
• lordly
• benevolent
• kind
• high-minded
• compassionate
• beneficent
• angelical
• greathearted
• kindly
• benignant
• polished
• genteel
• refined
• cultured
• cultivated
• kindhearted
• good-hearted
• tenderhearted
• softhearted
• well-bred

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bestial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bestial are brutal, brutish, and feral. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

In what contexts can brutal take the place of bestial?

The words brutal and bestial can be used in similar contexts, but brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When is it sensible to use brutish instead of bestial?

While the synonyms brutish and bestial are close in meaning, brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

When can feral be used instead of bestial?

While in some cases nearly identical to bestial, feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bestial

While her passion for her husband is tame, her screams for Dickinson’s character are bestial and overwhelming. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024

Pain was also inflicted on the dog deliberately during these bestial acts. —Kc Baker, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025

Eggers certainly loves the guy, and Skarsgård’s ultra-committed performance allows the film to enjoy a contagious pleasure in returning the vampire archetype to its more bestial origins. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024

The rape/bestial fetish is framed as a fantasy imagined by a woman, curiously beginning as an assault. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024