ANIMALISM Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

animalism

noun

ˈa-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm

Definition of animalism

as in brutality

the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal without law and order, society would quickly devolve into a state of animalism

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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 animalism Hope is something that Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri can related to, having explored the dualities of hope and despair (as well as lightness and darkness, and fluidity and animalism) in her spring 2023 collection. — Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025 But what Cameron represents to Harper is unfettered animalism, and that’s part of what’s missing in her relationship with Ethan. — Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for animalism

Noun

The army Mladic created to fight in Bosnia was a model of ruthlessness, daring and brutality in the Serb warrior tradition, once prized in the life-or-death partisan struggle against the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in World War Two.

— Ivana Sekularac, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Freya is the granddaughter of Athos — a dog who survived the Russian brutality in Bucha and was found on the street where Ukrainian forces destroyed a large Russian convoy, Danylchenko told the Associated Press in an interview.

— Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of brutality

Noun

In other words, humans can act against the animal component of their nature and manifest their humanity by rejecting their animality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Nov. 2025
This strangeness causes all sorts of internal agitation, an uneasiness about humanity’s closeness to animality.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025

Definition of animality

Noun

The bureau will additionally consider applicants who have engaged in bestiality or animal cruelty as long as the incidents occurred before the applicant was 18 years old, the sources said, according to CBS News.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
The Looney Tunes animation–live action hybrid film is an inspired David-and-Goliath tale about the overreach and cruelty of corporations in the modern age, and its journey to release is a real-life corollary.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026