beast

noun

ˈbēst 

1

a

: a four-footed mammal as distinguished from a human being, a lower vertebrate, and an invertebrate

b

: a lower animal as distinguished from 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

• baddie
• baddy
• brute
• caitiff
• devil
• evildoer
• fiend
• heavy
• hound
• knave
• meanie
• meany
• miscreant
• monster
• nazi
• no-good
• rapscallion
• rascal
• reprobate
• rogue
• savage
• scalawag
• scallywag
• scamp
• scapegrace
• scoundrel
• varlet
• villain
• wretch

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

But about 100 miles south in Chicago, the city that will play host to the Democrats about a month after Milwaukee, the beast’s nature has been the opposite, organizers and event planners said. —Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024

Is this menacing incel the beast come to devour Gabrielle? —Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Furthermore, Ferruccio was a big fan of Spanish bullfighting, which is why the logo captures the moment before the beast springs forth. —Sean Evans, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024

Rumored to be a hideout for Bigfoot, the Uwharrie National Forest, which covers approximately 51,000 acres, makes the perfect hiding spot for the elusive beast — or anyone else looking to get away from it all. —Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 26 Mar. 2024

Trackballs are difficult enough to come to terms with, but a two-handed mouse built around a slider bar is another beast entirely. —PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024

In 1979, a group called Women Against Pornography opened an office in what was then, in the organizers’ view, the belly of the beast: Times Square. —Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024

For the rest of the walk, I'm buoyed by the exhilaration of having experienced something rare—a live-wire connection with a five-ton wild beast. —Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024

Please note the spoonerisms throughout, that is, the reversals of initial consonant sounds: The Easter Bunny’s a funny beast, Gobbling down his bunny feast. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024

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

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