Skip to main content
animalistic

animalistic

8 6.7
Showing strong natural urges and acting roughly without thinking
  • adjective
  • /ˌænɪməˈlɪstɪk/
translation icon : animalista
  • Jacob is battling for his very soul and tears at the demon with an animalistic fury that takes it by surprise.
  • animalistic spirits

You know, dominance is, is the most basic animalistic way that we get status.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Physical attraction between man and woman is animalistic and very physical.

    Blog text (12)
  • You know, dominance is, is the most basic animalistic way that we get status.

  • All I knew is there had to be something animalistic about it, and they made up this game...

  • So you talk about a need for feedback that comes kind of from an animalistic place.

  • There is something incredibly animalistic about him.

  • He's had more of an animalistic vibe emanating from him.

    Blog text (5)
  • You are responding to the body and you're responding to the sexual acts per se in a way that is quite animalistic.

  • They renounced their humanity and returned to their animalistic roots.

  • The males receive animalistic monikers, such as Mr. Brady's "Big Eagle of Large Nest" and Greg's "Stalking Wolf."

    Academic text (2008)
  • There is something incredibly animalistic about his instinct to hunt for food.

Synonyms

instinctual
vsanimalistic
12 4.2

A quick natural reaction that happens without thinking

is broader, covering primal, non rational traits beyond mere instinct
animal
vsanimalistic
  • NSFW
1 7.3

Relating to strong physical desires rather than thought

is about primal, non rational drives beyond merely physical appetite
creaturely
vsanimalistic
  • Formal
1 7.3

About the basic physical needs and natural fears of animals and people

is more focused on primal, non rational traits rather than general limitation
animalian
vsanimalistic
  • Archaic
7.6

Acts like an animal because of strong instinct or violent behavior

is about primal, non rational traits rather than extreme savagery
zoistic
vsanimalistic
  • Specialized
9.9

About animals and their lives

is more about primal, instinctual qualities not just biological relation

How Animalistic

bestial
6 8.5
animalistic
8 6.7
instinctual
12 4.2

Surface Forms

animalistic positive

Morphology

animalistic = animal (transparent) = animal + istic

Formed by attaching the adjective-forming suffix '-istic' to 'animal', giving the straightforward meaning 'relating to animals' (and by extension 'primal/instinctual').

Etymology

Animalistic comes from animal, which itself comes from the Latin root anima meaning 'breath' or 'soul'. So, to be animalistic is to act 'like an animal' — driven by basic natural feelings rather than careful thought.