adj
beastly
BEEST-lee
Beastly (adj) means Extremely unpleasant, cruel, or disgusting. Example: “The weather has been absolutely beastly this week.”
adj
1
Extremely unpleasant, cruel, or disgusting.
"The weather has been absolutely beastly this week."
"It was a beastly thing to say to her."
adv
1
British informal: to a great or extreme degree.
"It's beastly cold out there tonight."
How to use beastly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNasty or unpleasant — often used in old-fashioned or dry British understatement.
When to use it
Has a somewhat dated, upper-class British flavour, as in "beastly weather."
Common pairings
beastly weather
beastly cold
a beastly habit
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Word forms
- Comparative
- beastlier, more beastly
- Superlative
- beastliest, most beastly
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The weather has been absolutely _____ this week.
Etymology
From Middle English bestely, formed from beast + -ly.
Related words
Rhymes for beastly
See all rhymes for beastly →Frequently asked questions
What does “beastly” mean?
The word “beastly” means extremely unpleasant, cruel, or disgusting. In plain terms, nasty or unpleasant — often used in old-fashioned or dry British understatement.
How do you pronounce “beastly”?
“Beastly” is pronounced BEEST-lee (/ˈbiːstli/ in IPA).
How do you use “beastly” in a sentence?
Here is “beastly” used in a sentence: “The weather has been absolutely beastly this week.”
What part of speech is “beastly”?
Depending on how it is used, “beastly” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “beastly” come from?
The word “beastly” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bestely, formed from beast + -ly.
How many meanings does “beastly” have?
“Beastly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely unpleasant, cruel, or disgusting.
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