beastly
/ˈbiːstli/ adjective, adverb
Forms beastlier beastliest
- adjective Pertaining to, or having the form, nature, or habits of, a beast.
- adjective Similar to the nature of a beast; contrary to the nature and dignity of human beings. “beastly culture”
- adjective (UK, dated) Abominable; very unpleasant; hideous. “beastly weather”
- adjective (slang) Of computer hardware or motor vehicles etc.: ostentatiously powerful.
- adverb Like a beast; brutishly.
- adverb (dated, colloquial) Very much; terribly.
Synonyms
animalian bestial animalesque animalish animalistic animal-like brutish brutal filthy hellish god-awful brute
Etymology
From Middle English bestely, bestly, equivalent to beast + -ly. Compare West Frisian bistachtich (“beastly”), Dutch beestachtig (“beastly”), German biestig (“beastly”).
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “beastly”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details