1
a
: of or relating to beasts
grotesque combinations of human and bestial forms
b
: resembling a beast
a bestial shape
2
a
: lacking intelligence or reason
… the bestial man has no sense of right and wrong …—
J. E. Hankins
J. E. Hankins
b
: marked by base (see base entry 3 sense 1a) or inhuman instincts or desires : brutal
bestial violence
… a scene of bestial intoxication …—Herman Melville
Herman MelvilleSynonyms
Examples of bestial in a Sentence
an apocalyptic sci-fi classic in which a lone drifter fights to avoid the bestial existence lived by the mass of survivors
Recent Examples on the Web
The rape/bestial fetish is framed as a fantasy imagined by a woman, curiously beginning as an assault.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024
An American heiress, Lucy (Lisbeth Hummel) shows up, destined to marry the horse-loving son of the manor, whose family is embroiled in significant turmoil over a Cardinal arriving to bless the newlyweds (apparently as a way to lift a bestial curse).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024
Movies tend to anthropomorphize their dogs by projecting recognizably human qualities onto them, but Bob Peterson and Pete Docter’s script embraces the less bestial parts of being an animal.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
The bestial prelude to love comes in many (weird, wild, even mildly horrifying) forms.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bestial 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024
An American heiress, Lucy (Lisbeth Hummel) shows up, destined to marry the horse-loving son of the manor, whose family is embroiled in significant turmoil over a Cardinal arriving to bless the newlyweds (apparently as a way to lift a bestial curse).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024
Movies tend to anthropomorphize their dogs by projecting recognizably human qualities onto them, but Bob Peterson and Pete Docter’s script embraces the less bestial parts of being an animal.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
The bestial prelude to love comes in many (weird, wild, even mildly horrifying) forms.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bestial
Articles Related to bestial
Dictionary Entries Near bestial
Cite this Entry
“Bestial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bestial. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share