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

This beast not only looks amazing, rides fantastic, handles unbelievably, but the power is what sets it apart from the rest. —Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025

Even in the wildest bush, beasts sometimes huddle for warmth. —Jessica Furseth, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025

But until recently, the blubbery beasts preferred the secluded south-facing pocket beaches of the Point Reyes Headlands. —Adrian Rodriguez, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns was a beast, dropping 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Knicks dominated from start to finish. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 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