Word
beast
Meanings
a large or dangerous animal, especially a wild one
a person who behaves in a cruel, violent, or inhuman way
an informal term for someone or something extremely impressive, powerful, or effective
Definition
A beast is a large or dangerous animal, or a person who behaves in a cruel or violent way.
A beast is often used to mean a wild animal, especially one that seems powerful or threatening. It can also describe a person who acts brutally or without compassion. In informal speech, it may praise someone or something as extremely impressive or strong, depending on context.
Examples
- In the flickering torchlight, the beast moved silently between the trees, and I felt my confidence drain away.
- You could hear the beast breathing behind the gate, even though you couldn’t see it clearly.
- After he read the witness accounts, he called the attacker a beast and refused to excuse the violence.
- She described the new engine as a beast, because it kept pulling hard even on steep mountain roads.
- They faced the beast of a deadline by dividing the work and refusing to panic.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes overuse beast for any animal; it usually implies something wild, powerful, frightening, or unusually impressive.
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