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.
There is something feral in the onrush of Marlowe’s verse, with the gleam of bared teeth daring us to laugh. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Some of the most notable included the iconic bell tower, the central fountain, the roaming pack of feral cats, and the massive gingko trees that loomed over a section of the academic quad and carpeted the sidewalks with golden leaves each fall. Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025 Martin Scorsese is desperate to get a Jonestown movie off the ground, while Ron Howard’s earnest, visionary director goes feral over some studio notes. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Later in episode 10, Peggy wants to invest her portion of her nest egg in a wild pig-hunting business in order to clear Redcorn’s farm of invasive feral hogs. Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 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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