beady

[ bee-dee ]

adjective

, bead·i·er, bead·i·est.

1. beadlike; small, globular, and glittering:

   beady eyes.

2. covered with or full of beads.

beady

/ ˈbiːdɪ /

adjective

1. small, round, and glittering: used esp of eyes
2. resembling or covered with beads

Derived Forms

• ˈbeadiness, noun
• ˈbeadily, adverb

Other Words From

• beadi·ly adverb
• beadi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beady¹

First recorded in 1820–30; bead + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Common wisdom holds that this long-tailed rodent will snatch your diamond rings and gold watches, your loose change and car keys, and hoard them in glistening stockpiles like some miniature, beady-eyed dragon.

From Popular-Science

She went outside to her yard and saw hundreds of beady-eyed insects enrobed in a thick shell of gold emerging out of the ground and crawling up the trees.

From MIT Technology Review

Pavlovic submitted a sketch that captured the creature’s spooky aesthetic, right down to its beady eyes and the fabric-like swirls of its outfit.

From Washington Post

He would speak too close to you, his voice a monotone rattle sliding out from his endlessly smirking mouth, his beady dead eyes staring from under bushy eyebrows and over a nose like a hatchet.

From Ozy

It’s the stuttering, beady-eyed performances of some of the characters.

From Vox

He agreed, and I could almost feel his beady little eyes going ‘KERCHING!’

From The Daily Beast

A tiny spaniel lay beside the fire, his beady black eyes following the nervous movements of the master of the house.

From Project Gutenberg

But as he turned toward the door she caught a glimpse of a glossy black mustache, and two beady black eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Then its cold, beady eyes were fixed on Dick and it uttered a vicious hiss.

From Project Gutenberg

For out of the box glided a real, live snake, fully three feet long, and with beady and dangerous looking eyes!

From Project Gutenberg

Don't thet beady-eyed greaser's gall make you want to spit all over yourself?

From Project Gutenberg