visceral
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the viscera.
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affecting the viscera.
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of the nature of or resembling viscera.
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characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect.
a visceral reaction.
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characterized by or dealing with coarse or base emotions; earthy; crude.
a visceral literary style.
adjective
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of, relating to, or affecting the viscera
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characterized by intuition or instinct rather than intellect
Other Word Forms
- nonvisceral adjective
- unvisceral adjective
- viscerally adverb
Etymology
Origin of visceral
First recorded in 1565–75; from Medieval Latin viscerālis, equivalent to viscer(a) ( viscera ) + -ālis -al 1
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.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in Mediterranean-style diets rich in fish oil, olives and nuts, may reduce visceral fat.
From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026
It’s everything that great art can and should be: visceral, inspiring and unforgettable.
From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026
Actress Rose Byrne gives a visceral portrayal of a burnt out mother who feels alone in her struggle to meet the needs of her daughter and hold up the scaffolding of family life.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
Private-equity firms and hedge funds alike have thrown billions of dollars at the live-events industry, believing it offers a visceral, in-person antidote to society’s obsession with computer screens and iPhones.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
Kutuzov defeated Napoleon precisely because he was not swayed by the ephemeral and superficial values of the court, and made his decisions on a visceral understanding of his men and his people.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
