beast

[ beest ]

noun

1. any nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.
2. the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals:

   Hunger brought out the beast in him.

3. a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.

   Synonyms: barbarian, monster, ogre, savage, brute, pig, swine, cad

4. a live creature, as distinguished from a plant:

   What manner of beast is this?

5. the beast, the Antichrist.

beast

/ biːst /

noun

1. any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped
2. savage nature or characteristics

   the beast in man

3. a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person

verb

1. slang:military.
   tr to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise

Other Words From

• beastlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beast¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English be(e)ste, from Old French beste ( French bête ), from Latin bēstia

Word History and Origins

Origin of beast¹

C13: from Old French beste , from Latin bestia , of obscure origin

Synonym Study

See animal.

Example Sentences

Despite the strong language, however, the neither the JPO nor Lockheed could dispute a single fact in either Daily Beast report.

From The Daily Beast

“We talked about the science the whole time the other day,” Krauss told The Daily Beast in a phone interview.

From The Daily Beast

As part of that effort, Said received weapons training for months, sources told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

“We quietly did,” Reed previously told The Daily Beast of removing ISIS.

From The Daily Beast

That is why The Daily Beast stands with Charlie Hebdo and published their controversial covers in the wake of the attack.

From The Daily Beast

Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold more.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a very dangerous one, too, and sometimes lives were sacrificed in his efforts to capture or to kill this fierce wild beast.

From Project Gutenberg

This harmless image of a fierce beast Yung Pak would pull about the floor with a string by the hour.

From Project Gutenberg

Zoological gardens and “wild beast shows” had for him attractions which were quite irresistible.

From Project Gutenberg

"Looks like some wild beast had attacked him," muttered the old man, in awed tones, as he bent over the lifeless body.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brute
• cad
• ogre
• ogress