bestial

[bes-chuhl, bees-]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or having the form of a beast.

   the belief that a person could assume bestial form after death;

   the bestial signs of the zodiac.

2. without reason or intelligence; brutal; inhuman.

   bestial treatment of prisoners.

3. beastlike in gratifying one's sensual desires; carnal; debased.

bestial

/ ˈbɛstɪəl /

adjective

1. brutal or savage

2. sexually depraved; carnal

3. lacking in refinement; brutish

4. of or relating to a beast

Other Word Forms

• bestially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bestial¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, either from Anglo-French or directly from Late Latin bēstiālis ( Latin bēsti(a) beast + -ālis -al ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bestial¹

C14: from Late Latin bestiālis , from Latin bestia _beast

Example Sentences

He said McGowan's attack on Ms Inglis was "brutal and bestial" and he thanked her family for their dignity in court.

From BBC

Sparkle pony or not, this year proved that even with lavish accommodations like RVs and power drops, Burning Man is a bestial experience — which is apropos considering the theme this year was “Animalia.”

From Los Angeles Times

Although he welcomed the Gladstone apology in Guyana, he said the failure to acknowledge Jamaica hinted at "an unwillingness to face up to the full brutal, bestial horror of chattel slavery" in the country.

From BBC

"We cried. We pleaded for a little compassion. Their bestial hearts only craved satisfaction. At the age of 14, I was poisoned," the Malaya Lolas sing.

From BBC

Vasily Piskarev, the head of the Committee on Security and Corruption Control in the State Duma, called the cafe attack terrorism and said it showed “the bestial nature of our enemies.”

From Washington Post