visceral
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the viscera.
-
affecting the viscera.
-
of the nature of or resembling viscera.
-
characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect.
a visceral reaction.
-
characterized by or dealing with coarse or base emotions; earthy; crude.
a visceral literary style.
adjective
-
of, relating to, or affecting the viscera
-
characterized by intuition or instinct rather than intellect
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of visceral
First recorded in 1565–75; from Medieval Latin viscerālis, equivalent to viscer(a) ( see viscera) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
When something's visceral, you feel it in your guts. A visceral feeling is intuitive — there might not be a rational explanation, but you feel that you know what's best, like your visceral reaction against egg salad. Your hatred of mice may not be rational, but it is visceral, and every time you see one, you feel like you're going to faint. And when you had to decide whether you were going to stay in Florida or move to Texas, even though you had a good job in Orlando you had a visceral feeling that Texas would be the right choice . . . and it turned out you were meant to be a rancher! Visceral can also mean “relating to the viscera,” with viscera being your organs.
Vocabulary lists containing visceral
This Week in Words: April 6–12, 2019
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That includes a sudden, visceral connection to a different group, a change in identity or morality.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
It’s normal and healthy to have some visceral fat, but too much has been linked with a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and metabolic conditions like Type 2 diabetes.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
In an interview with ITV, Edwards said she vaguely remembered the Worboys case but had a "visceral response" when reading the script.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
“Rather than wanting intimacy in a romantic capacity, just really wanting to be grounded and connected with someone… and finding something much more visceral and much richer.”
From Salon • May 11, 2026
I’d winced at the pay cut, but on some visceral level I was just intrigued.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
