feral

adjective

fe·​ral ˈfir-əl 

ˈfer-;

ˈfe-rəl 

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

Synonyms

• savage
• unbroken
• undomesticated
• untamed
• wild
• wilding

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

Set to begin shooting in Los Angeles in February, the indie watches as a struggling family’s fresh start in a run-down apartment building turns into a fight for survival as a horde of feral cats unleashes terror, revealing the dark and deadly horrors lurking within its walls. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2025

Shasta County authorities at the time of the April sightings suspected the wolf mixes, described as a wolf/husky/malamute hybrid, had been owned at one time but had gone feral. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 23 Jan. 2025

The feral pockets and the generous creative community. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025

Elland Road regulars have to agree the stadium has rarely reached that feral, out-of-body, launch-yourself-four-rows state since relegation. —Beren Cross, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

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

Kids Definition

feral

adjective

fe·​ral ˈfir-əl  ˈfer- 

: having escaped from domestication and become wild

feral cats