beastly
gb/bˈistli/ us/bˈistli/
B2
English
~ 9800
borzalmas, pocsék, iszonyúan, kegyetlen, állatias
B2
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
a beastly [noun]
It was beastly weather all weekend, cold and pouring with rain.
Egész hétvégén borzalmas idő volt: hideg volt, és szakadt az eső.
I've had a beastly headache since this morning.
Ma reggel óta borzalmas fejfájásom van.
There was a beastly smell coming from the fridge.
She caught a beastly cold on the flight back from New York.
The traffic was absolutely beastly during rush hour.
Learner examples
The weather is beastly today.
Ma pocsék idő van.
I have a beastly cold and I feel bad.
Iszonyú náthám van, és rosszul érzem magam.
There is a beastly smell in this room.
He had a beastly day at work.
The bus ride was long and beastly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "beastly" can be used in very formal writing, but this sense is informal and often sounds a bit British or old-fashioned. In American English, words like "awful" or "terrible" are more common in this meaning.
Meaning
very unpleasant or annoying
Collocations
beastly weather
|a beastly cold
|a beastly smell
|a beastly headache
|a beastly day
|beastly conditions
Synonyms
awful (Very common and neutral; slightly less old-fashioned than "beastly".)
|
horrible (Often stronger and more emotional; not as British-sounding as "beastly".)
|
nasty (Suggests something unpleasant in a dirty or mean way.)
Antonyms
pleasant (Describes something enjoyable or nice, the opposite of unpleasant.)
|
nice (Simple, positive word often used where "beastly" would be negative.)
Themes
daily life
|weather
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very unpleasant or very annoying, used in an informal way.
Extremely unpleasant, uncomfortable, or annoying, especially in a general, informal way.
C1
INFORMAL
2
iszonyúan
B1
Usage pattern:
beastly [adjective]
I'm beastly tired after that twelve-hour shift.
Iszonyúan fáradt vagyok azután a tizenkét órás műszak után.
It was beastly cold in the tent last night.
Tegnap éjjel iszonyúan hideg volt a sátorban.
The lecture was beastly dull, and half the class fell asleep.
She's beastly nervous about the interview tomorrow.
This old laptop is beastly slow when I try to open large files.
Learner examples
I am beastly tired after the long trip.
Iszonyúan fáradt vagyok a hosszú út után.
It is beastly cold in this room.
Iszonyúan hideg van ebben a szobában.
The movie was beastly boring.
He was beastly angry when he heard the news.
The bus is beastly slow today.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "beastly" as an adverb in formal writing (e.g., exams, reports), but this use is informal and mainly British. In most situations, it is better to use "very" or "extremely".
Meaning
extremely; very (intensifier)
Collocations
beastly tired
|beastly cold
|beastly hot
|beastly slow
|beastly unfair
|beastly loud
Synonyms
extremely (More neutral and common in both speech and writing; not informal or region-marked like "beastly".)
|
terribly (Similar informal intensifier, often with negative adjectives.)
Antonyms
slightly (Shows a small degree instead of a very strong degree.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used like "very" to make an adjective stronger, usually with something bad.
Used as an intensifier meaning extremely or very, especially before adjectives describing negative states.
C1
3
kegyetlen
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is beastly to [someone]
He was positively beastly to his little sister, teasing her until she cried.
Kifejezetten kegyetlen volt a kishúgával: addig csúfolta, míg sírva fakadt.
The prisoners were subjected to beastly treatment in the camp.
A foglyoknak kegyetlen bánásmódot kellett elszenvedniük a táborban.
It's beastly of you to laugh at him when he's clearly upset.
Some of the online comments were downright beastly and personal.
The film shows the beastly side of war, with soldiers behaving without mercy.
Learner examples
He was beastly to his friend and made him cry.
Kegyetlen volt a barátjával, és megríkatta.
That was a beastly thing to say.
Nagyon kegyetlen volt ilyet mondani.
The teacher was not beastly; she was very kind.
They gave the dog beastly treatment, and it was very sad.
Please don't be beastly to your brother.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is only about animals because of the word "beast", but here it usually describes human behavior that is very unkind or cruel. Also, "beastly" is not as strong as legal terms like "inhuman" or "barbaric" in serious reports.
Meaning
cruel, harsh, or brutal
Collocations
beastly to someone
|beastly behavior
|beastly treatment
|a beastly act
|beastly cruelty
|beastly bullying
Synonyms
cruel (Direct and common; focuses on causing pain or suffering.)
|
brutal (Stronger, often suggesting physical violence or extreme harshness.)
|
mean (Everyday word for unkind; usually sounds less strong than "beastly".)
Antonyms
kind (Shows care and concern for others, the opposite of cruel behavior.)
|
gentle (Soft and careful in treatment, opposite of harsh or brutal.)
Themes
relationships
|morality
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very cruel or very unkind, as if the person does not care about others' feelings.
Cruel, harsh, or brutal in a way that seems lacking in normal human kindness or sensitivity.
C2
LITERARY
4
állatias
C1
Usage pattern:
beastly [noun]
The novel explores the beastly instincts that lie beneath polite society.
A regény azokat az állatias ösztönöket vizsgálja, amelyek a civilizált társadalom felszíne alatt rejtőznek.
She struggled with what she called her beastly appetites and tried to live a simpler life.
Küzdött azzal, amit ő állatias vágyainak nevezett, és egyszerűbb életre törekedett.
In the poem, the city is portrayed as a beastly world ruled by hunger and fear.
The philosopher warned of the beastly nature that can emerge when laws and customs break down.
His rant was so full of rage that it seemed almost beastly, more roar than speech.
Learner examples
The writer talks about the beastly side of people.
Az író az emberek állatias oldaláról beszél.
He fights his beastly desires and tries to be good.
Küzd az állatias vágyai ellen, és igyekszik jó ember lenni.
Some stories show a beastly world without rules.
They believe humans have both human and beastly parts.
The movie shows a beastly life in the wild.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the simple informal meaning "very unpleasant". In this literary sense, the focus is on animal-like instincts or nature, often in serious or philosophical writing.
Meaning
like a beast or animal
Collocations
beastly instincts
|beastly desires
|beastly appetites
|beastly nature
|beastly world
|beastly impulses
Synonyms
bestial (More formal and technical; often used in serious or religious contexts.)
|
animalistic (Focuses on raw, instinctive animal qualities.)
Antonyms
humane (Emphasizes human kindness and moral feeling, contrasted with animal-like lack of restraint.)
|
civilized (Suggests controlled, socially developed behavior instead of primitive, animal-like behavior.)
Themes
literature
|philosophy
|animals
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Like an animal in body or mind, especially when talking about strong desires or low, wild behavior.
Having the physical or instinctive qualities of a non-human animal, especially strong bodily desires or a lack of higher reasoning or restraint.
Grammar
Dictionary form
beastly
IPA
GB/bˈistli/
US/bˈistli/
Syllables & stress
beastly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (beastly)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: beastly
Word family
Core family
beast
noun B1
Advanced or less common
bestial
adjective
Expressions
a beastly cold
1/ə bˈistli kˈoʊld/
fixed phrase
informal
a very bad cold (illness)
A strong, unpleasant cold (illness) that makes you feel very bad.
Examples
- I've got a beastly cold and can hardly speak.
- She stayed home from work with a beastly cold and a sore throat.