beast

noun

Synonyms of beastnext
1
a
: a four-footed mammal as distinguished from other animals
b
: an animal that is not 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

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
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.
The dispatch Compass is that rare beast — a British company that is a genuine world leader in its field. Ian King, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 The place was used for wild beast hunts, public executions, and gladiator fights for several hundred years, then became a condo of sorts as medieval Romans made their homes in the hulking ruins. Katie Parla, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026 How can a small compete in a world of oversize jock beasts? Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026 This is the first Super Bowl ad for Donaldson, 27, the proverbial beast of YouTube, with more subscribers than anyone else on the social media platform. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beast

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beste, from Anglo-French, from Latin bestia

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of beast was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beast. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

beast

noun
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

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