bestiality

noun

ˌbes-chē-ˈa-lə-tē How to pronounce bestiality (audio)
Definition of bestialitynext
as in brutality
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal by the end of hostilities the suffering populace had been reduced to a level of bestiality that would have been unthinkable before the war

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bestiality
  1. brutality
  2. cruelty
Noun
  • Notable releases include a novel about police brutality, the return of Barbara Kingsolver, 1980s fiction and a deep dive into the very real specter of artificial intelligence.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The government suspended the use of stun grenades after a 15-year-old ​boy's hand was blown off earlier in the week, fueling accusations of police brutality.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of brutality
Noun
  • Ted Gualtier, owner of Happy Tail Happy Dog, LLC, has been charged by Denver authorities with one count of cruelty to animals.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Many abolitionists and Quakers – who fought to ban slavery – initially supported the colonization society’s removal efforts as a means for helping Black residents escape the cruelty of American laws, especially the Fugitive Slave Acts.
    — Karen Masterson, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of cruelty
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.

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bestial
bestiality
bestialize
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Cite this Entry

“Bestiality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bestiality. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bestiality

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bestiality

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