beast
8 synonyms for beast, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large or dangerous four-footed animal.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use beast
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a wild beast
a beast of a machine
beast mode
Etymology
From Old French beste (Modern French bête), from Latin bēstia, meaning "animal."
Full origin of beast →Frequently asked questions
What does “beast” mean?
The word “beast” means a large or dangerous four-footed animal. In plain terms, a wild or dangerous animal, a cruel person, or (informally) something impressively powerful or tough.
How do you pronounce “beast”?
“Beast” is pronounced beest (/biːst/ in IPA).
How do you use “beast” in a sentence?
Here is “beast” used in a sentence: “Villagers spoke of a beast prowling the woods at night.”
What part of speech is “beast”?
“Beast” is a noun.
Where does the word “beast” come from?
The word “beast” comes from Latin. From Old French beste (Modern French bête), from Latin bēstia, meaning "animal.".
Is “beast” a common word?
“Beast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “beast” have?
“Beast” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large or dangerous four-footed animal.
What is the difference between a 'beast' and an 'animal'?
'Animal' is a neutral, general term for any living creature that is not a plant. 'Beast' is more emotive and usually refers to a large or dangerous four-footed animal, and it can also describe a cruel or brutal person, which 'animal' does only in strong, figurative use.
What are common expressions using 'beast'?
Familiar phrases include 'wild beast', 'beast of burden' for a working animal, and 'the nature of the beast' for an unavoidable characteristic of something. 'Bring out the beast in someone' means to provoke their aggressive side.
