The process of becoming or being treated like an animal, or the act of giving animal qualities to something.
From animalize (to make animal) + -ization (noun-forming suffix). Animalize comes from animal + -ize (to cause to become). The root animal comes from Latin animalis, from anima meaning soul or life force.
This word reveals how humans have historically used 'animalization' as a tool of dehumanization—describing enemies, enslaved people, or despised groups as having 'animal' qualities to justify cruel treatment. Linguistically, it shows how the suffix -ize is incredibly powerful at turning any adjective into a verb of transformation.
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