1
a
: a four-footed mammal as distinguished from a human being, a lower vertebrate, and an invertebrate
b
: a lower animal as distinguished from 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
Synonyms
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
The grand tourer can also accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and hit a top speed of 209 mph which suggests its successor will be a true beast.
—
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2024
Nothing on the scale of the beasts listed above, but still, some big events.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beast 
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2024
Nothing on the scale of the beasts listed above, but still, some big events.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beast
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near beast
Cite this Entry
“Beast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beast. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beast
noun1
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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