feral

adjective

fe·​ral ˈfir-əl How to pronounce feral (audio)
ˈfer-;
ˈfe-rəl How to pronounce feral (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
feral teeth
feral instincts
2
a
: not domesticated or cultivated : wild
feral animals
b
: having escaped from domestication and become wild
feral cats
feral noun
Choose the Right Synonym for feral

brutal, brutish, bestial, feral mean characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct.

brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

Examples of feral in a Sentence

They led a feral existence. animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets
Recent Examples on the Web Other large wildlife found at the preserve include bobcats, coyotes, deer, feral hogs and even the occasional Florida black bear sighting, Prout says. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Animal shelters and zoos across the country are willing to name litter boxes, outdoor posts, feral cats and Madagascar hissing cockroaches after ex-lovers in exchange for small donations. Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 In this world, apes have become the dominant species, with humans living a nearly feral existance. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2024 Some are so feral they’re designed to piss you off. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 9 Feb. 2024 So far, however, there is virtually no scientific evidence that feral pigs provide any benefits in North America. Discover Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023 Just a few inches long in captivity, the fish species can grow to be massive (up to 16 inches long) when feral, per the outlet. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 For $25, the Feline Rescue Association in Owings Mills, Md., will name a feral cat after your ex and neuter it on Valentine’s Day. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 Unlike vultures, who often avoid human contact, feral dogs can be aggressive and carry diseases. Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild — more at fierce

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of feral was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near feral

Cite this Entry

“Feral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feral. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

feral

adjective
fe·​ral ˈfir-əl How to pronounce feral (audio) ˈfer- How to pronounce feral (audio)
: having escaped from domestication and become wild
feral cats

More from Merriam-Webster on feral

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