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Writing Tips Oasis

Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books.

How to Describe a Beast in a Story

By Rebecca Parpworth-Reynolds

how to describe a beast in a story

If you need help with writing a character who is a beast, this post is a must read. In it, we’ll show you how to describe a beast in a story with examples that make use of 10 highly descriptive words.

 

1. Bloodthirsty

Definition

Eager to see and take part in violence and killing.

Examples

“The beast’s bloodthirsty nature and violent hunts left the entrance to its lair permanently stained red.”

“The beast let out a bloodthirsty howl that made the hunters’ legs buckle in fear.”

How it Adds Description

Using the word “bloodthirsty” to describe a beast helps to demonstrate its violent nature. It adds a sense of threat for the characters in your story, as they know that the beast is out to seriously harm or kill them and won’t stop until it can.

 

2. Dangerous

Definition

Capable of causing harm or death to someone.

Examples

“As soon as the sun set, the villagers barred their windows and barricaded their doors against the dangerous beast that prowled the shadows.”

“The enormous, razor-sharp claws of the dangerous beast glinted ominously in the moonlight, ready to strike at any moment.”

How it Adds Description

Describing a beast as “dangerous” illustrates how deadly it is in your story. It is something that is widely regarded as a threat, and so it raises the stakes in the story as the consequences of being bested by it become more severe. This can make the narrative more gripping, upping the tension as your readers become invested in the outcome and the safety of the characters that are facing the beast.

 

3. Demonic

Definition

Wild and evil.

Examples

“The demonic beast, with its fiery red eyes and twisted, grotesque features, emanated an aura of pure malevolence.”

“The village elders spoke in hushed tones about the cursed, demonic beast that had haunted the nearby woods for centuries as if even they were scared to speak of its existence.”

How it Adds Description

Describing a beast as “demonic” can be a form of exaggeration or hyperbole to emphasize its menacing or fearsome nature. It could even represent a sense of evil, chaos, or malevolence associated with the beast, especially in genres such as horror. This helps to ramp up the fear factor, showcasing the beast as so threatening that it appears to be not of this world to your characters and reader.

 

4. Ferocious

Definition

Frightening, fierce, and violent.

Examples

“The ferocious beast, its muscles coiled with untamed power and a relentless hunger burning in its eyes, prowled the jungle with a primal fury.”

“The ferocious beast, with its bared, gleaming fangs and a deafening roar that echoed through the mountains, was the stuff of legends.”

How it Adds Description

Using the term “ferocious” to describe a beast immediately communicates that it is a significant threat. It underscores the idea that the beast is not just dangerous but actively hostile and prone to attack. As a result, describing a character’s interactions with a ferocious beast can be a way to reveal their bravery, resourcefulness, survival skills, and ability to overcome adversity.

 

5. Frenzied

Definition

Uncontrolled, sometimes in a violent way.

Examples

“The frenzied beast, its eyes wild and with froth foaming from its snarling mouth, charged through the forest, leaving chaos in its wake.”

“As the frenzied beast closed in, its frenetic movements and bloodshot eyes painted a nightmarish picture of a creature consumed by madness.”

How it Adds Description

“Frenzied” behavior in a beast can highlight its animalistic instincts. It shows the creature acting on its primal urges, which can be a stark reminder of the wild, untamed aspects of nature. This adds a sense of unpredictability and surprise to the narrative which your characters will need to navigate, as they have no idea what the creature will do next.

 

6. Ghastly

Definition

  1. Unpleasant and shocking.
  2. Ugly.

Examples

“The ghastly beast, with its pallid, decaying flesh and hollow, soulless eyes, emerged from the shadows.”

“Amidst the eerie moonlight, the ghastly beast materialized, a spectral apparition with gnarled, skeletal limbs and a haunting wail that echoed through the night.”

How it Adds Description

If you need to show your reader that your beast has a shocking and disturbing appearance, consider describing it as “ghastly”. This will likely lead your characters to be repulsed by the beast and could serve as a representation of other things deteriorating in the narrative, such as being a mirror of a character’s morality or showing a society that is slipping away.

 

7. Misunderstood

Definition

Being perceived and understood wrongly by others as not having any good qualities.

Examples

“The misunderstood beast, with its peculiar appearance and gentle demeanor, often found solace in solitude, yearning for a world that would see beyond its fearsome exterior and discover the kind heart hidden within.”

“Despite its menacing appearance, the misunderstood beast harbored a profound sadness in its eyes, as if hurt by the way that the adventurer recoiled in fear from it.”

How it Adds Description

Sometimes a beast can get a bad reputation unnecessarily in a story, and actually can end up being a good character! If this is the case, consider describing it as “misunderstood” to create sympathy from your reader.

 

8. Monstrous

Definition

  1. Very cruel.
  2. Like a monster.

Examples

“The monstrous beast towered over the landscape, letting out a bellowing roar that shook the earth.”

“In the depths of the forsaken forest, the monstrous beast lurked with an insatiable hunger for any that would seek to harm its woodland home.”

How it Adds Description

Using the word “monstrous” to describe a beast highlights to your reader that it is more than just a simple animal, and instead possesses qualities that make it evil or dangerous to the characters in your story. This could also hint at the idea that the beast has a horrifying appearance designed to cause shock and fear.

 

9. Rugged

Definition

  1. Strong and powerful.
  2. Wild and untamed.

Examples

“The rugged beast, with its weathered hide and scars from countless battles, exuded an aura of resilience and primal strength, a testament to its untamed nature.”

“The rugged beast looked more like a boulder than a living creature, as moss grew upon its fur and its skin hardened like diamonds.”

How it Adds Description

“Rugged” is a great term to use if you want to emphasize the wild and tough nature of the beast in your story. It implies that it is strong, hardy, and as if it represents the nature or surroundings that your characters find it in. This makes it great for describing beasts that are guardians of particular settings.

 

10. Terrifying

Definition

Very frightening.

Examples

“The terrifying beast, with its bloodshot eyes and gnashing, dagger-like teeth, haunted the darkest corners of our nightmares, a creature of pure, unrelenting horror.”

“Amidst the chilling silence, the terrifying beast’s malevolent presence loomed.”

How it Adds Description

Rather than just referring to the beast in your story as being “scary” or “frightening”, try using the word “terrifying” instead to emphasize the depth of the emotion of fear your characters are experiencing. This word also helps to demonstrate that this fear lingers long after the beast has gone, making it a true thing of nightmares.

Filed Under: Grammar, Writing & Editing

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