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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The bestial prelude to love comes in many (weird, wild, even mildly horrifying) forms.
—
Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
The Beast taps into man’s bestial nature, inviting visitors through Jack the Ripper’s London, the Werewolf Forest and a maze in a medieval castle that defies visitors to find a way out.
—Robert Trussell, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
Rodin’s Crouching Woman, paired in the exhibit with Claudel’s later work of the same name, is locked in an unlikely, bestial position.
—Farah Peterson, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2023
It’s also built to meet Appendix K FIA regulations for competition, with a period-correct 5.3-liter V-8 that makes appropriately bestial noises.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bestial
Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
The Beast taps into man’s bestial nature, inviting visitors through Jack the Ripper’s London, the Werewolf Forest and a maze in a medieval castle that defies visitors to find a way out.
—Robert Trussell, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
Rodin’s Crouching Woman, paired in the exhibit with Claudel’s later work of the same name, is locked in an unlikely, bestial position.
—Farah Peterson, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2023
It’s also built to meet Appendix K FIA regulations for competition, with a period-correct 5.3-liter V-8 that makes appropriately bestial noises.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bestial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bestial
Adjective
-
The United States should never seek to match China’s brute force approach to economic power.—
Steve Bowsher,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Feb. 2025
-
This is her answer, in part: In terms of brute force and repression, the grip of the dictatorship in Cuba is as tight as ever.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The free chow was served daily, except on Fridays, and continued through a brutal period of industrywide cost-cutting that persists to this day.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
1 Mar. 2025
-
England’s Champions Trophy campaign finally came to a brutal end when they were beaten by South Africa in Karachi by seven wickets with almost 21 overs to spare.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The likely source, investigators concluded: a playground sandbox that some feral cats used as a litter box.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
21 Feb. 2025
-
What about feral reactions from fans at the stage door?—
Kate Lloyd,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to bestial
Cite this Entry
“Bestial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bestial. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share