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
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
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
There are nods to Linda Blair’s Regan in the sludgy projectile vomit that pours out of Katie, as well as the animalistic scampering, bodily contortions and levitation.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Buc-ee's is arguing that the animalistic logo is too similar to the buck-toothed beaver donning a red baseball cap inside of a bright yellow circle.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The characters live in a world of mud, rain, wind, and animalistic yearning, reflecting the bugs and birds and rabbits and dogs and livestock that surround them.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Bergholm employs some very effective sound design here, giving just a hint of animalistic growling to the kid’s lusty cries.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
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
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 6 May 2026
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
There are nods to Linda Blair’s Regan in the sludgy projectile vomit that pours out of Katie, as well as the animalistic scampering, bodily contortions and levitation.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Buc-ee's is arguing that the animalistic logo is too similar to the buck-toothed beaver donning a red baseball cap inside of a bright yellow circle.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The characters live in a world of mud, rain, wind, and animalistic yearning, reflecting the bugs and birds and rabbits and dogs and livestock that surround them.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Bergholm employs some very effective sound design here, giving just a hint of animalistic growling to the kid’s lusty cries.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animalistic
Adjective
-
The goal wasn’t to shape or combat any one particular narrative, but to complicate the entire story through brute force.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
The cracks are widening in the cult of Homelander, and brute force isn’t solving the problem.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The creature-feature horror film plunges into the jungles of the Dominican Republic, where a group of road workers battling brutal conditions encounter the Ciguapa — a terrifying figure from local folklore with backward feet and the power to possess men through her gaze.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Anyone familiar with the show knows what comes next probably won't be pretty, but even diehard fans will be shocked by how brutal Scattered Hopes can be.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
One of them is home to Sylvie (Isabelle Huppert), a prickly author who is supposed to be getting ready to move out but has instead descended into such a semi-feral state while working on her latest novel that her niece, Laurence (India Hair), hires someone to help her out.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
The old mining town of Oatman, known for its feral donkeys, is on the way.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Neither one of these people appears to be enjoying themselves, but the woman soon begins to grunt with the bestial upset of a werewolf under a full moon.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
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Where Gilgamesh is civilized, Enkidu is bestial, tamed only by the temple courtesan Shamhat via six days and seven nights of lovemaking.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Animalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animalistic. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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