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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Domestic cat breeds that roam the streets without a home or owner are considered feral cats. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025 Work also needs to be done to remove invasive species—like feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, for example. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025 Abandonment and Free-Roaming Cats Most feral cats descend from those abandoned outdoors. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025 Axel cocked his head with wild eyes and a feral grin. Jordan Thomas may 28, Literary Hub, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for feral

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Feral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feral. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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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