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

Perhaps, title aside, inside of each of us there are actually TWO beasts — one who loves dramas about rich people committing murder or covering up murder in Long Island and one who hates dramas about rich people committing murder or covering up murder in Long Island. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025

Rizo and Savannah saw Sophie as a challenge beast shield, and as someone with fewer connections on the other side who could be swayed over. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Nov. 2025

Cleveland looks like the regular-season beasts of the East, once again. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

Here, the Monster is a rampaging beast, with a look that blends The Hills Have Eyes with ’50s sci-fi cheese. —Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025

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