beastly
/ˈbiːstli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbiːstli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbēst-lē/ (ame, mw)
beastly — adjective
- beastlypositive
- beastliercomparative
- beastliestsuperlative
1. Behaving or speaking in a deliberately cruel, mean, or unfriendly way toward ano
Behaving or speaking in a deliberately cruel, mean, or unfriendly way toward another person.
Mateo was beastly to his younger brother, hiding his toys and teasing him at dinner.
beastly to
The landlord gave Yuna a beastly look when she asked about the broken heater.
beastly look
What a beastly thing to say to someone who just lost their job!
Ayanda's classmates were beastly to her, whispering and laughing whenever she read aloud.
That was a beastly trick to play on an old woman who could barely walk.
文法句型
beastly to + person
beastly + noun
用法筆記
This sense is old-fashioned in modern English. Younger British speakers would rarely use 'beastly' in everyday conversation; 'mean', 'nasty', or 'horrible' are far more common.
常見錯誤
2. Having the appearance, qualities, or behaviour of a wild animal rather than a hu
Having the appearance, qualities, or behaviour of a wild animal rather than a human being.
The injured bear let out a beastly roar that echoed through the forest.
Isabella was shocked by the beastly cruelty of the dictator's soldiers.
beastly cruelty
Deepa refused to eat the meat, saying the smell reminded her of beastly butchery.
The gardener found a creature with a beastly face covered in dark fur and sharp teeth.
- bestial
more formal and stronger; suggests savage, inhuman behaviour
- brutish
suggests a coarse, stupid, or violent quality rather than animal appearance
- animalistic
neutral description of animal-like traits, not necessarily negative
文法句型
beastly + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (VERY UNKIND): sense 2 refers to actual animal-like appearance or behaviour, not simply unkindness toward people. The noun it modifies is often something physical (face, roar) or a quality (cruelty, hunger).
常見錯誤
beastly — adverb
1. To an extreme degree, especially in an unpleasant or unwelcome way; used as an i
To an extreme degree, especially in an unpleasant or unwelcome way; used as an intensifier before adjectives.
It was beastly cold outside, so Luis wore three layers of clothing.
beastly cold
Fatima found the exam beastly difficult, even though she had studied for weeks.
The traffic was beastly slow, and James missed his flight.
The old house was beastly damp, with mould creeping up every wall.
文法句型
beastly + adjective
用法筆記
Strongly old-fashioned. In modern British English, 'beastly' as an intensifier has been largely replaced by 'terribly', 'awfully', or 'extremely'. Learners should recognise it in older texts but avoid using it productively.
常見錯誤
2. In a way that is cruel, savage, or resembles the behaviour of a wild animal towa
In a way that is cruel, savage, or resembles the behaviour of a wild animal toward another creature.
The invaders behaved beastly, burning villages and stealing everything of value.
behaved beastly
The prisoners were treated beastly by the guards, who showed them no mercy.
The captured wolf was handled beastly, beaten with sticks and left in a tiny cage.
Luis's dog had been treated beastly by its previous owners and flinched at every touch.
- brutally
more common; emphasises physical violence and lack of mercy
- savagely
suggests fierce, uncontrolled violence like a wild animal
- inhumanely
formal; stresses the absence of human compassion
文法句型
verb + beastly
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. 'Brutally' or 'savagely' are far more common. This sense is almost always used in passive constructions with verbs like 'treated', 'handled', or 'behaved'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He ran beastly fast.' — Beastly as an adverb of manner describes cruelty, not speed or intensity. Use 'extremely fast' for intensity (adv sense 1) or 'brutally' for manner (adv sense 2).