bestial

[ bes-chuhl, bees- ]

See synonyms for bestial on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.
without reason or intelligence; brutal; inhuman: bestial treatment of prisoners.

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

Origin of bestial

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, either from Anglo-French or directly from Late Latin bēstiālis (Latin bēsti(a) beast + -ālis -al¹)

Other words from bestial

bes·tial·ly, adverb

Words Nearby bestial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bestial in a sentence

bestial signifies amongst Scottish agriculturists cattle generally, the whole aggregate number of beasts on the farm.
Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character | Edward Bannerman Ramsay
bestial, in modern usage, implies an intensified and degrading animalism.
English Synonyms and Antonyms | James Champlin Fernald
bestial in the uncertain light Hanuman leered with his carven mask.
Shadows in Zamboula | Robert E. Howard
bestial, best′i-al, adj. like a beast: rude: brutally sensual.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) | Various
Best′ialism, irrationality; bestial′ity, beastliness: disgusting vice.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) | Various

British Dictionary definitions for bestial

bestial

/ (ˈbɛstɪəl) /

adjective

brutal or savage
sexually depraved; carnal

lacking in refinement; brutish
of or relating to a beast

Origin of bestial

C14: from Late Latin bestiālis, from Latin bestia beast

Derived forms of bestial

bestially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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