visceral

[vis-er-uhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to the viscera.

2. affecting the viscera.

3. of the nature of or resembling viscera.

4. characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect.

   a visceral reaction.

5. characterized by or dealing with coarse or base emotions; earthy; crude.

   a visceral literary style.

visceral

/ ˈvɪsərəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting the viscera

2. characterized by intuition or instinct rather than intellect

Other Word Forms

• viscerally adverb
• nonvisceral adjective
• unvisceral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of visceral¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Medieval Latin viscerālis, equivalent to viscer(a) ( viscera ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

“Glaciers are touchstones between the past and the present, and it’s just so visceral when you can see how it used to be and how it is today,” Jones said.

From Los Angeles Times

It's about as coherent as any pop concert narrative - ie not very - but Gaga's visceral commitment makes it soar.

From BBC

Most of Sami's other paintings are also striking and huge, and give a visceral sense of the aftermath of destruction without actually including any people or identifying which battlefield they intend to show.

From BBC

"I think the fact that the party is discussing this after 20 years of visceral opposition to any ID is actually a step forward."

From BBC

Hey, who spends hours figuring out how to prepare his Scout troop for their adventures, said he couldn’t have designed “a better scenario to make the training very visceral and real.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ingrained 
• innate 
• intuitive