beasties
Wee crawling things
Beasties is a playful or affectionate term for small creatures, especially insects, spiders, or other creepy-crawlies: What beasties are living under that rock?
The word can also refer to imaginary monsters, particularly in children's speech or Scottish dialect.
It softens what might otherwise seem threatening or disgusting into something almost endearing.
Animals, said fondly
- cuddlyPleasantly huggable
- adorableExtremely endearing
- belovedOne who is treasured
- cherishedHeld dear, prized
endearing · huggable · lovable · nuzzle · snuggle · tender · furry · fuzzy
Mythical fire-breathing reptiles
- unicornsMythical one-horned equines
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- centaursHorse-bodied humanoids
- minotaursHybrid bull-human monsters
krakens · sphinxes · gorgons · hydras · griffins · nymphs · cyclopes · sirens
Evil spirits, often corpse-eaters
- ogresMythical man-eating giants
- fiendsMalevolent supernatural beings
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
- scaryCausing fright
demons · nightmarish · creepy · spooky · goblins · gremlins · bogeymen · nasties
Wild after domestication
- untamedNot domesticated
- predatorsAnimals that kill prey
- preyAnimal being hunted
- huntingPursuing wild game
foraging · scurrying · crawling · slithering · prowling · nocturnal · burrows · dens
Extremely small
- bonnieScottish for pretty
- haggisScottish offal pudding
- neepsTurnips, to Scots
- tartanPatterned clan fabric
highland · loch · braw · croft · glen · moor · heather · thistle
Lighthearted playful movement
- rompPlayful, spirited activity
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- scamperQuick, light-footed dash
scurry · frolicsome · rollicking · frisky · prancing · tumbling · chasing · pouncing
critters
Animals, said fondly
cherished · endearing · huggable · lovable · nuzzle · snuggle · tender · furry · fuzzy · sweetie
dragons
Mythical fire-breathing reptiles
- unicornsMythical one-horned equines
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- centaursHorse-bodied humanoids
minotaurs · krakens · sphinxes · gorgons · hydras · griffins · nymphs · cyclopes · sirens · mermaids
ghouls
Evil spirits, often corpse-eaters
- ogresMythical man-eating giants
- fiendsMalevolent supernatural beings
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
scary · demons · nightmarish · creepy · spooky · goblins · gremlins · bogeymen · nasties · horrors
feral
Wild after domestication
hunting · foraging · scurrying · crawling · slithering · prowling · nocturnal · burrows · dens · nests
wee
Extremely small
tartan · highland · loch · braw · croft · glen · moor · heather · thistle · kelpie
frolic
Lighthearted playful movement
- rompPlayful, spirited activity
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
scamper · scurry · frolicsome · rollicking · frisky · prancing · tumbling · chasing · pouncing · frolicking
- night terrorsnightmares, bogeymen, sleep paralysis, ghosts, phantoms
beastiesfauna
Animal life collectively
specimens · organisms · species · vertebrates · invertebrates
- Beastie BoysBrooklyn hip-hop trio
- wee beastie