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

All beasts are subject to sudden and violent extinction at the hands of other beasts. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Its contaminated followers were one step removed from the beasts of the field. —Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026

Rather than simply feeding the ’90s beast with subdued tank tops and pencil skirts, though, designers this week seemed more eager to recreate the feeling of the decade on their runways. —Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026

After some time, King Arthur and beast robots are thrown into the mix, because Bayhem, baby! —Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 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