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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bestial
Some deep bestial neurological structures fired inappropriately and stoked within her an instinct of brute survival.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Channels the inner, bestial urges to release an unworldly howl that pushes back any nearby enemies.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
His nemesis in this series was a bestial Wakandan in a gorilla suit called Man-Ape.
—Ekow Eshun
july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
Despite bestial brutality and life-limiting economic and social injustices made legal—some existing still—our foreparents clung fiercely to their humanity and envisioned ours.
—Essence, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bestial
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Channels the inner, bestial urges to release an unworldly howl that pushes back any nearby enemies.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
His nemesis in this series was a bestial Wakandan in a gorilla suit called Man-Ape.
—Ekow Eshun
july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
Despite bestial brutality and life-limiting economic and social injustices made legal—some existing still—our foreparents clung fiercely to their humanity and envisioned ours.
—Essence, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bestial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bestial
Adjective
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Hard rock mining Standard refining is a brute-force process.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
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The texture is smooth and medium-bodied, emphasizing balance rather than brute force.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Bichette is off to a brutal start, Francisco Lindor’s spring hamate injury may have affected his power even before his calf strain knocked him out for the last month, and Jorge Polanco has barely been on the field.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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Hounded by a loud, impatient Eisenhower and faced with the very real evidence that a brutal trio of storms will make an early June invasion impossible, Stagg is torn between doing his duty and, well, doing his duty.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Publishers Coolabi Group and Chinese online giant Tencent Video have greenlit the series, adapted from Erin Hunter’s novels about battling clans of feral cats, which have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
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Look for Wildlife Throughout the park, bison lumber along the road and prairies, while feral horses flounce about the buttes.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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In Buc-ee's complaint, the chain argues that the animalistic logo is too similar to its own – a toothy beaver wearing a red ballcap inside a bright yellow circle.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
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The song’s almost animalistic sensuality is miles away from the safe choices Skye has made—or been asked to make—until now.—
Cameron Cook,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bestial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bestial. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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