also: けだもの
noun
Refers to wild animals, beasts, or creatures, often with a nuance of ferocity or lack of human reason. The reading けだもの can sound more emphatic or derogatory. The reading じゅう is mainly used in compounds.
森の中で大きな獣に出会った。
I encountered a large beast in the forest.
When he gets drunk, he becomes like a brute.
noun
animal with human characteristics (furry subculture)
Only with reading ケモノ
Slang term used within the furry subculture to refer to anthropomorphic animal characters. Typically written in katakana as ケモノ.
彼はケモノのイラストを描くのが好きだ。
He likes drawing illustrations of anthropomorphic animals.