beast

[beest]

See more synonyms for beast on Thesaurus.com

noun

any nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.
the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals: Hunger brought out the beast in him.
a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.

a live creature, as distinguished from a plant: What manner of beast is this?
the beast, the Antichrist. Rev. 13:18.

Origin of beast

1175–1225; Middle English be(e)ste < Old French beste (French bête) < Latin bēstia

Related formsbeast·like, adjective

Synonyms for beast

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3. cad, swine, pig, brute, savage, ogre, monster, barbarian.

Synonym study

1. See animal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for beast

pig, monster, creature, barbarian, monstrosity, swine, glutton, fiend, gargoyle, quadruped, varmint, critter, beastie

Examples from the Web for beast

Contemporary Examples of beast

Despite the strong language, however, the neither the JPO nor Lockheed could dispute a single fact in either Daily Beast report.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal
Dave Majumdar
January 8, 2015
“We quietly did,” Reed previously told The Daily Beast of removing ISIS.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS
Marlow Stern
January 8, 2015
That is why The Daily Beast stands with Charlie Hebdo and published their controversial covers in the wake of the attack.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too
John Avlon
January 8, 2015
“He has to really stay on the down low, he has to make sure that he blends in,” Ney told the Beast.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv
Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich
January 7, 2015
Yazbek tells The Daily Beast that the traffickers guarantee their service, and they treat the Syrian refugees with respect.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean
Barbie Latza Nadeau
January 6, 2015

Historical Examples of beast

He is a wondrous large and strong man, with no ruth for man, woman, or beast.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
A man is but a beast as he lives from day to day, eating and drinking, breathing and sleeping.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
It is used by their prickers and huntsmen when the beast hath not fled, but is still in its lair.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
The voice, too, when he spoke, was as deep and as fierce as the growl of a beast of prey.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
"It's the nature of the beast to run crazy," pursued Kingozi tranquilly.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for beast

beast

noun

any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped
savage nature or characteristicsthe beast in man
a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person

verb

(tr) military slang, slang, mainly British to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise

Word Origin for beast

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for beast

c.1200, from Old French beste "animal, wild beast," figuratively "fool, idiot" (11c., Modern French bête), from Vulgar Latin *besta, from Latin bestia "beast, wild animal," of unknown origin. Used to translate Latin animal. Replaced Old English deor (see deer) as the generic word for "wild creature," only to be ousted 16c. by animal. Of persons felt to be animal-like in various senses from early 13c. Of the figure in the Christian apocalypse story from late 14c.