ANIMALISM Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

animalism

noun

ˈa-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm

Definition of animalism

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for animalism

Noun

The Beast in Me showrunner Howard Gordon knows there was one scene in the Netflix limited series that was divisive because of its brutality.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Today, such dreams might put a woman in jail or expose her to the casual brutality of the Taliban’s paternal order.

— Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of brutality

Noun

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
This strangeness causes all sorts of internal agitation, an uneasiness about humanity’s closeness to animality.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025

Definition of animality

Noun

In late 2024, Spitze pleaded guilty to several charges related to child pornography and animal cruelty, and had been awaiting sentencing since then.

— Mike Levine, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Brown is charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children.

— Christopher Harris, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026