beast

noun

ˈbēst How to pronounce beast (audio)
Definition of beastnext
1
as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person she's a real beast to anyone who makes the mistake of crossing her

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2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others he always has to act like a beast whenever things don't go his way

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3
as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings a frigid night that was fit for neither man nor beast

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4
as in headache
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work controlling the state's vast bureaucracy has always been a beast

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beast Getting them in a room together was like wrestling mythological beasts. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 The dilettante witches wind up waking a beast more dreadful than mid-life ennui. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Terrors of the Deep — Deadly sea beasts terrorize the fishermen along the docks. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026 Above and below the main narrative of the Bayeux Tapestry are two strips filled with ancient beasts, including tail-chasing dogs and tightly knotted swans. — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beast
  1. brute
  2. jerk
  3. animal
  4. headache
  5. villain
  6. dog
  7. creature
  8. job
Noun
  • Most sportsmen wonder how any whitetail bucks, let alone a brute such as Kontras’, could have been so easily patterned.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The show’s depiction of Hugh as a family man has been much more sympathetic than the book’s description of him as a power-hungry brute.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of brute
Noun
  • According to children’s program manager Fedeline Julien, who has worked for Beaches since 1999, the area where Treasure Beach stands used to be dedicated to beach parties, team member residences, and the jerk truck.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In late August, Mayor Mamdani hosted a celebration of Caribbean culture at Gracie Mansion with plenty of patties and jerk chicken to go around.
    — Reshma B, VIBE.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • The sheriff's office's drone was used to assist in checking the approximately 28-acre property and helped identify old kennel and animal-confinement areas.
    — River Valley Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Gaspafotos/Getty Images His team selection against Forest suggests the head coach is cognizant of Tottenham’s declining effectiveness as a set-piece animal.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • Brighton sold Carlos Baleba to Manchester United in August in a deal worth up to £70m, and also losing Ayari during the summer window would have been a headache for the head coach.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Pay for the features that reduce headaches After 1,700 miles, that might have been the biggest lesson.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • There are no villains in Possible Love; there are only people who are aware of others, and people who are not.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The former Democratic speaker was the longtime villain, a mainstay in ads as Republicans linked Democratic candidates to her to paint them as radical and out of touch.
    — James A. Downs, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of villain
Noun
  • My therapy dog and I accompanied grieving families to ground zero in the days following the attacks.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Above and below the main narrative of the Bayeux Tapestry are two strips filled with ancient beasts, including tail-chasing dogs and tightly knotted swans.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • More than 600 creatures are pictured, including horses, bison, deer, and aurochs, making the Lascaux caves one of the most concentrated showcases of cave art in existence.
    — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 10, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Barbara Cartland, like most successful writers, was a creature of routine.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • Jeffrey Katzenberg, then a studio executive at Paramount Pictures, hand-picked the Happy Days star for the job, but at the time, Winkler had a bad feeling about accepting it.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • And Kyle was doing a great job of dialing up the right play calls.
    — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of job

Phrases Containing beast

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bear witness
beast
beast fable
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Cite this Entry

“Beast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beast. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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