foul beast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "foul beast" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a creature or entity that is unpleasant, evil, or morally reprehensible, often in a literary or dramatic context. Example: "The villagers spoke in hushed tones about the foul beast that roamed the dark forest at night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Foul beast of legend, divine judgment or, as widowed young amateur geologist Cora suspects, a living fossil that somehow eluded extinction in the inscrutable depths of the Blackwater estuary?

The Guardian - Books

Taken from Bertolt Brecht's warning about the rise of Nazism in his play The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, the quote reads: "The belly is still fertile from which the foul beast sprang".

The Guardian

Despite appearances of tolerance, it's best not to offend the Muslim Malays with scanty dress, dirty language or dragging along your favourite dog (branded a foul beast in the Koran).

BBC

Flowers on the fenland The umbrella has again f...ed itself over my head, it takes me forever to extract the remote pad from the bottom of my fanny pack, and I'm drenched by the time I unlock the foul beast, which then mocks me by again flashing at me: 'Blindspot Not Available, Sensor Blocked, See Manual.'.

Huffington Post

Run around Runescape fighting Lesser Demons and dragons and yell, "Back you foul beast!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Florida's version is the Skunk Ape, a foul-smelling beast that lives in the swampy recesses of the Everglades.

The Guardian - Travel

Girls still contend with a shameful amount of inane claptrap; boys are presumed to enjoy shish-kebabbing foul beasts.

The Guardian - Books

Capcom's portable behemoth is like The Witcher 3 in the sense that your avatar has a penchant for tracking and slaying foul beasts, but its design is based around much shorter sessions, its maps compact but varied of terrain.

Vice

It seems like humans tried to solve a problem in this case, a curse and depending on your take of Bloodborne lore, they may have opened the floodgates to Amygdala's monstrous brethren and other foul beasts in the process.

Vice

Gameplay wise, though, this isometric-perspective action-RPG takes cues from the devastatingly tough mechanics of Dark Souls and its surrounding series, your controllable shield maiden charged with discovering the root of a worldwide infection that's turned humanity into all manner of foul beasts.

Vice

Except for Tommy, who doesn't seem to belong to the family, the men are raging, foul-mouthed beasts who exact revenge with the sadistic relish that Brian De Palma's "Scarface" made into a mob movie imperative.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foul beast" to add a strong, negative connotation, often suitable for fantasy, horror, or dramatic contexts where heightened language is appropriate. Make sure that the tone fits the overall style of the text.

Common error

Avoid using "foul beast" in everyday conversation or casual writing, as it can sound overly dramatic or out of place. Opt for more common and appropriate terms depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foul beast" primarily functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines the adjective 'foul,' which denotes something unpleasant or offensive, with the noun 'beast,' indicating an animal or creature. As Ludwig AI confirms, it can be used to describe an unpleasant, evil, or morally reprehensible entity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "foul beast" is a descriptive noun phrase used to evoke strong negative emotions like disgust or fear. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and suitable for describing creatures or entities considered unpleasant or evil. While versatile, its use should be carefully considered based on the context, avoiding overuse in informal settings where it may sound overly dramatic. Alternative phrases like "loathsome creature" or "vile monster" can offer similar connotations. Although the phrase does not occur very often, its intent to convey something wicked, repellent, and morally questionable is clear from its usage in news media and literature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Vile monster

Synonymous replacement, stressing wickedness and monstrous nature.

Loathsome creature

Replaces both adjectives and noun, emphasizing disgust.

Abhorrent fiend

Highlights the repugnant and evil character.

Disgusting animal

Emphasizes the revolting nature.

Horrid being

Emphasizes the dreadful nature of the entity.

Repulsive brute

Focuses on physical repulsiveness and brutish behavior.

Evil entity

Generic replacement, stressing malevolence.

Wretched wretch

Focuses on the pitiable yet despicable nature.

Detestable thing

Broad term indicating strong dislike.

Nasty critter

Offers a more informal, but still negative, description.

FAQs

How can I use "foul beast" in a sentence?

You can use "foul beast" to describe a creature that is considered repulsive, evil, or morally corrupt. For example: "The knight prepared to battle the "foul beast" that terrorized the kingdom."

What's a less dramatic alternative to "foul beast"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "nasty creature", "vile monster", or "horrible animal" to convey a similar negative sentiment without the high drama of "foul beast".

Is "foul beast" an appropriate term in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "foul beast" is generally more suited for creative writing or dramatic contexts. For formal writing, consider more neutral or precise language unless the aim is to create a specific emotional effect.

What is the origin of the phrase "foul beast"?

The phrase combines "foul", meaning offensive or disgusting, with "beast", referring to an animal or creature. Its usage likely stems from folklore and literature, where monstrous entities are often described in such terms to evoke fear and disgust.