as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
with animalistic fury the boxer tore into his opponent
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Recent Examples of animalistic
Venezuelan tonka bean absolute gets an edgier twist with palo santo and musk, while coconut powder balances the earthy and animalistic notes with a subtly fresh sweetness.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
One quality that distinguishes the very best chess players is killer instinct, an almost animalistic will to win.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
So much of one’s experience at a restaurant is contextual, dependent on the arc and flow of a meal, and singling out any one specific creation or sensory experience forces me to take stock in a more granular, almost animalistic way.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
Followed by the look of pure, animalistic pleasure.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
To bring in more of the animalistic influence, try styling your little black dress with a crocodile-leather-texture coat.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2025
Ones where the monster, their creator, or both are possessed by throbbing, animalistic lust.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Dæmons seem to be an outward manifestation of the complex nature of humans that encompasses, male, female and animalistic characteristics that hint towards the breaking of gender binaries and the possibilities of interspecies relations.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Scary Farm visitors will enter the maze as military recruits arriving at the secret lab to be transformed into animalistic super soldiers using one of three methods — surgery, chemical treatments or genetic mutations.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
One quality that distinguishes the very best chess players is killer instinct, an almost animalistic will to win.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
So much of one’s experience at a restaurant is contextual, dependent on the arc and flow of a meal, and singling out any one specific creation or sensory experience forces me to take stock in a more granular, almost animalistic way.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
Followed by the look of pure, animalistic pleasure.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
To bring in more of the animalistic influence, try styling your little black dress with a crocodile-leather-texture coat.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2025
Ones where the monster, their creator, or both are possessed by throbbing, animalistic lust.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Dæmons seem to be an outward manifestation of the complex nature of humans that encompasses, male, female and animalistic characteristics that hint towards the breaking of gender binaries and the possibilities of interspecies relations.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Scary Farm visitors will enter the maze as military recruits arriving at the secret lab to be transformed into animalistic super soldiers using one of three methods — surgery, chemical treatments or genetic mutations.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animalistic
Adjective
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Their crime was raising their voices against a repressive government that relied on brute force and surveillance of its citizens for its survival, a regime whose authority rested on force and fear.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
As the sector transitions from the initial brute-force stage of training large models to the challenge of running them affordably and efficiently on a large scale, designers are dividing into rival factions.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With the benefit of hindsight, analysts and investors have blamed much of Kraft Heinz’s downward spiral on the brutal cost-cutting strategy imposed after the merger.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Unrelenting cold in storm’s aftermath Last weekend’s historic winter storm and the brutal cold that followed have been blamed for at least 85 deaths in the US, the Associated Press reported.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Hunters can find whitetail deer, turkeys, feral pigs, mallards, wood ducks, gadwall, wigeon, teal, canvasback and other migratory bird species.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
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Big burgers spark bigger ideas from the community Long-time participant Corey Geier has already tried over half of the 50 burgers in the feral food competition.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some deep bestial neurological structures fired inappropriately and stoked within her an instinct of brute survival.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
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Channels the inner, bestial urges to release an unworldly howl that pushes back any nearby enemies.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Animalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animalistic. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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