beast

noun

ˈbēst 

1

a

: a four-footed mammal as distinguished from other animals

b

: an animal that is not a human being

c

: an animal as distinguished from a plant

d

: an animal under human control

2

: a contemptible person

3

: something formidably difficult to control or deal with

Synonyms of beast

• brute
• villain
• monster
• savage
• devil
• criminal

Examples of beast in a Sentence

dogs and other four-footed beasts

the birds and beasts of the forest

They were attacked by a savage beast.

He's a cruel, hateful beast!

Recent Examples on the Web

Sadly, there are no plans for this sleek beast to be heading off-road outside of mainland China at this stage. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026

The American League East became more of a beast, the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres retooled, and the Mets sold — and sold and sold — on a busy final day before the MLB trade deadline. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

Even the band’s Interscope debut, 1991’s Sailing the Seas of Cheese, only splashed a thin layer of lacquer onto an ugly, unruly beast. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026

With Content London, the London TV Screenings and newer fare like the Creative Cities Convention, along with the soon-to-launch TV Festival in Greater Manchester, the UK TV industry events calendar is a crowded beast. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beste, from Anglo-French, from Latin bestia

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing beast

• beast epic
• beast fable
• beast mode
• beast of burden
• different beast
• go beast mode
• the belly of the beast

Rhymes for beast

• ceased
• creased
• east
• feast
• fleeced
• geest
• greased
• leased
• least
• pieced
• priest
• yeast

Kids Definition

beast

noun

ˈbēst 

1

a

: a four-footed mammal as distinguished from human beings and from lower animals both with and without backbones

b

: a farm animal especially when kept for heavy work

2

: a mean or brutal person