animal 1 of 2

noun

ˈa-nə-məl How to pronounce animal (audio)
Definition of animalnext
as in creature
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings we saw a lot of animals at the wildlife refuge—cranes, alligators, deer, a fox, even an armadillo

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

animal

2 of 2

adjective

as in physical
of or relating to the human body had intellectual as well as animal needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word animal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of animal are carnal, fleshly, and sensual. While all these words mean "having a relation to the body," animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

led a mindless animal existence

When can carnal be used instead of animal?

The words carnal and animal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

a slave to carnal desires

How do fleshly and carnal relate to one another, in the sense of animal?

Fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

When is it sensible to use sensual instead of animal?

The words sensual and animal can be used in similar contexts, but sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

fleshpots providing sensual delights

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 animal
Noun
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its ancient mountains, diverse plant and animal life and preservation of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, according to the NPS website. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 Three baby goats at a North Carolina petting zoo tested positive for rabies, sparking a statewide search for people who interacted with the animals. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
When Hamnet dies, Agnes lets out a sound of pure grief and rage and horror that is almost animal. — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026 And much like the fictional sport’s real-world counterpart, in this all-animal cinematic universe, roarball is the ultimate culture-definer. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for animal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animal
  1. creature
  2. physical
  3. beast
  4. bodily
Noun
  • Niemiller and his team have named the new species Demogorgonichthys arcanus, a wink to the otherworldly creature that emerged in a secret federal lab in the Netflix series Stranger Things.
    — Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And then in Book 2, that attraction that the creatures have to him in the magical world of Gilmouria becomes stronger.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of creature
Adjective
  • If physical gestures serve our relatives just fine, why did our own branch of the family tree gradually favor biological changes in our brains and anatomy that permitted our characteristic complexities in language and precision in speech?
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • His best explanations for this are pressure from shareholders to prioritize immediate returns over long-term investments, and years of obsession with digital that came at the expense of physical retail.
    — Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of physical
Noun
  • The Appalachian Trail is absolutely brutal The distance alone is obviously absurd, but mileage is only part of what makes the AT such a beast.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • An unlikely walk-off hero, a CGSO, all-around beast pitching, more lead changes than was probably comfortable … ugh, so good.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of beast
Adjective
  • Sanchez was charged with one felony count of battery resulting in bodily injury, plus misdemeanor charges of unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, public intoxication endangering the life of another and battery resulting in bodily injury.
    — Matt Schubert, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • He was booked at the Gladesville Police Station on three domestic violence charges — common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choking a person without consent — and eventually released on bail.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bodily

Phrases Containing animal

Browse Nearby Words

anility
animal
animal husbandry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Animal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animal. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All