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

Young men are being murdered everywhere, and the beast is nowhere to be seen. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024

Windows apps are complicated beasts, and there may be quirks and oddities when using the emulation layer. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024

To be across from Adam Driver [in House of Gucci], who is a beast, and Joaquin who’s a beast. —Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2024

To be across from Adam Driver [in ‘House of Gucci’], who is a beast, and Joaquin who’s a beast. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Sep. 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