February 25, 2026
primal
/ˈpɹaɪməl/adjective
Basic and instinctive, coming from a deep, natural part of human or animal nature rather than from thought.
Example sentences
- “The scream in the dark filled me with primal fear.”
- “Protecting your children is one of the most primal human instincts.”
- “The drums had a primal rhythm that made everyone want to dance.”
Standard pairings are 'primal fear', 'primal instinct', and 'primal urge'. For very ancient forests or landscapes, 'primeval' is the usual word.