bestial

adjective

ˈbes-chəl How to pronounce bestial (audio)
Definition of bestialnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bestial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bestial are brutal, brutish, and feral. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

In what contexts can brutal take the place of bestial?

The words brutal and bestial can be used in similar contexts, but brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When is it sensible to use brutish instead of bestial?

While the synonyms brutish and bestial are close in meaning, brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

When can feral be used instead of bestial?

While in some cases nearly identical to bestial, feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bestial
  1. brute
  2. brutal
  3. feral
  4. animalistic
Adjective
  • As rules and institutions constrain less and brute power matters more, countries will seek partners to help them blunt sanctions, access critical technologies, compensate for military weaknesses, expand their room for maneuver, and resist isolation.
    — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Security features include free SSL certificates, daily off-site backups, DDoS protection, malware scanning, a Web Application Firewall, brute-force protection, and two-factor authentication.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of brute
Adjective
  • Especially for a team that's played a brutal schedule through the first six weeks.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Broncos get a long weekend off after their brutal six-week opening stretch.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • While uptight Elinor excels at hiding her feelings for the similarly taciturn Edward, Marianne goes wild (nearly feral, really) when new neighbor Willoughby saves her from physical injury (literally sweeping her off her feet and a wincing ankle).
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The murder of the family is graphic enough, but what happens to Ethan and Ivy is far more perverse, especially when Ivy’s apparently dead body is defiled by one of the feral desert gang members.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of feral
Adjective
  • Several garments like this one went down the runway, all made of that unique furry fabric that gave each model an animalistic look.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • An animalistic sense of intimidation coils beneath each gesture as Bracken offers a remarkable follow-up to her breakout role as a stern clairvoyant.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
Definition of animalistic

Browse Nearby Words

bested
bestial
bestiality
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Cite this Entry

“Bestial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bestial. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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