Definition of feral
1 : of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast feral teeth feral instincts
2a : not domesticated or cultivated : wild feral animalsb : having escaped from domestication and become wild feral cats
feral
nounExplore M-W
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 of feral from the Web
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DuPage County also works to control the feral cat population by trapping and neutering the cats.
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Meow Village has rescued more than 200 kittens born to feral cats since late spring.
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After releasing a couple of albums surveying the tundra of postpunk—full of wide-open spaces, instrumental lunges, and feral howls—Beijing three-piece Re-Tros are pivoting toward a minimalism that draws people in rather than making them scurry away.
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The vibe is rich hippie, with blush-colored duvets and feral-looking bouquets of seasonal flowers and female acoustic covers of Bruce Springsteen songs.
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The idea that children live a separate existence from their parents, one that is half-feral—both beautiful and dangerous—becomes central to the story.
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Across the street, cranes for unloading ships were at a standstill, and fishing boats were pulled up, attracting feral cats.
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Last year, about 50 feral cats were rehomed as workers.
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But nothing is worse than Mother’s Day, with its reluctant-to-be-together families, barely-there grandmas, and feral kids running wild around hot drinks and making a mess of buffets.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'feral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of feral
Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild — more at fierce
Synonym Discussion of feral
FERAL Defined for English Language Learners
feral
playDefinition of feral for English Language Learners
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: of, relating to, or resembling a wild beast
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—used to describe an animal (such as a cat or dog) that has escaped and become wild
FERAL Defined for Kids
feral
playDefinition of feral for Students
: having escaped from the care of people and become wild feral pigs
Learn More about feral
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See words that rhyme with feral Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for feral Nglish: Translation of feral for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of feral for Arabic speakers
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