brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.
a senseless and brutal war
brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.
brutish stupidity
bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.
bestial depravity
feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.
the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses
Example Sentences
They led a feral existence. animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets
Recent Examples on the WebSo when rabies takes hold in a raccoon population, the virus tends to spread to other animals: feral cats, foxes, unvaccinated dogs, even humans. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Dear Cathy, Does anyone make cat food that can be given to feral cats to keep them from getting pregnant? Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Sep. 2022 At night, hatchlings can be lured to their deaths by condo lights or gobbled up by foxes, racoons and feral cats. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Many homes are now abandoned or in poor shape, feral cats roam the property, and water lines, which date back to the amusement park days, are in serious disrepair. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 The best time to catch feral cats is between 10:30 p.m. and midnight in the summer, and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 This change is reflected in hormone levels observed in this study and beyond; other researchers have found that cortisol concentrations are higher in European wildcats than in feral cats. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 27 July 2022 In this version, directed by Zambello and Brenna Corner, Mowgli, the feral boy raised by a pack of wolves, is a girl (the sweet-voiced, impish Lily Grady).New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Also called burros, feral donkeys travel in herds, seeking out water sources in small wetland oases, often trampling vegetation in the process. Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild — more at fierce