animalian
1
7.6
- adjective
- /ˌænɪˈmeɪliən/
- Archaic
- His animalian instincts kicked in when he saw the approaching threat.
Examples
-
Such episodes can be downright animalian.
Academic text (2001) -
The animalian drive to survival not only substitutes adequately for the innate evil impulse.
Academic text (1998) -
Shouldn't "salvation" refer to such a deliverance from bondage to an animalian self-centeredness that harms my neighbor?
Academic text (1998) -
The origin, nature, and function of the "what"—the body/brain of the self-aware creature of the animalian world—produces the nature and function of "who" we are.
Academic text (1998) -
The documentary showcased the animalian behavior of wolves during a hunt.
-
Some argue that competition among species can reveal our more animalian traits.
Synonyms
44
7.3
Relating to strong physical desires rather than thought
11
6.5
Cruel and showing no care for other people like an animal
7
6.7
Showing strong natural urges and acting roughly without thinking
1
7.3
About the basic physical needs and natural fears of animals and people
How Bestial
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Animalian comes from the common word animal ('a living creature') plus the ending -ian ('related to'), so it literally means 'related to animals'. That's why animalian is used for behaviour that is 'like an animal', for example instinctive or savage actions.