viscerally

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a deep, instinctive way, felt in the body rather than reasoned out.

   Grammar: Often placed before a verb or adjective: viscerally disturbing.

   Patterns

   • viscerally disturbing
   • react viscerally

   She reacted viscerally to the sight of the accident and had to look away.

   I viscerally hated the smell of the hospital.

   The film viscerally conveys the terror of being lost at sea.

2. 2adverbnot comparablemedicalrare

   In a way that relates to the internal organs of the body.

   Grammar: Technical and rare; mostly in anatomy: viscerally located.

   Patterns

   • viscerally located

   The pain was felt viscerally, deep inside the abdomen.

   Fat stored viscerally surrounds the organs.

   The surgeon noted the lesion was viscerally attached.

Common combinations

viscerally disturbing

The documentary is viscerally disturbing.

feel viscerally

He felt the loss viscerally.

respond viscerally

Audiences respond viscerally to the stage show.

viscerally real

The war scenes feel viscerally real.

viscerally opposed

She was viscerally opposed to the plan.

Synonyms and how they differ

instinctively

Instinctively describes an automatic reaction, and need not suggest strong emotion.

intuitively

Intuitively suggests understanding without conscious reasoning, usually in a calm way.

emotionally

Emotionally is broader and only says that feelings are involved, not that the reaction is gut-level.

deeply

Deeply can mean strongly but doesn't carry the idea of a bodily, instinctive response.

Opposites

Word family

visceral adjective

relating to deep, instinctive feelings, or to the internal organs

viscera noun

the internal organs of the body

viscus noun

a single internal organ

Commonly confused: viscerally or viciously?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “viscerally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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