animalism
Americannoun
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preoccupation with or motivation by sensual, physical, or carnal appetites rather than moral, spiritual, or intellectual forces.
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the theory that human beings lack a spiritual nature.
noun
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satisfaction of or preoccupation with physical matters; sensuality
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the doctrine or belief that man lacks a spiritual nature
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a trait or mode of behaviour typical of animals
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of animalism
First recorded in 1825–35; animal(ize) + -ism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today, “Horses” retains its punk animalism and wild tear through the emotional wilderness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025
Slate is full of praise for both actors, saying that she will be first in line later this year to see Adams’ buzzy “Nightbitch,” a movie that shares with “Lifeform” themes of postpartum animalism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2024
Three new films are making fresh attempts to reckon with “the symbol of animalism and evil”, as Rolling Stone magazine called him.
From The Guardian ● May 15, 2019
The cast is strong, too: Mr. Cole and Mr. Naumovski circling each other with a territorial animalism, Ms. Alsip deploying an easy glow that turns to outrage.
From New York Times ● Jan. 21, 2016
There is perhaps no torture more intense than a struggle like this between noble instincts and the animalism of the world.
From The Jew by Kraszewski, Jo?zef Ignacy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
