Synonyms for

Animal

Verb / ˈænʌmʌl / Another word for animal — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

An animal is a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.

Synonyms & similar words

carnal fleshly fauna creature animatebeing beast brute sensual creature beast critter fauna wildlife organism species varmint brute monster pet critter vermin animalistic zoological nonhuman being faunal

Synonyms by register

Formal

creature organism fauna beast

Informal

critter guy thing

Literary

brute beastie

Antonyms

plant vegetable fungus mineral inanimate object human

Common collocations

  • wild animal
  • domestic animal
  • farm animal
  • animal kingdom
  • animal behavior
  • animal rights
  • animal welfare

Word family

noun animal
verb animalize
adjective animalistic
adverb animalistically

Usage note

While 'animal' can refer to any living organism in the biological kingdom Animalia, it is often used informally to refer specifically to non-human creatures, sometimes with a connotation of being less intelligent or more instinct-driven than humans.

Example sentences

  1. The animal ran across the field.
  2. The animal in the picture is a giraffe.
  3. The zoo has many different types of animals.
  4. I love learning about animals in science class.
  5. My favorite animal is a dolphin.

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