wilderness

noun

wil·der·ness | \ ˈwil-dər-nəs

Definition of wilderness

1a(1) : a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings

(2) : an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community

b : an empty or pathless area or region in remote wildernesses of space groups of nebulae are found— G. W. Gray †1960

c : a part of a garden devoted to wild growth

2 obsolete : wild or uncultivated state

3a : a confusing multitude or mass : an indefinitely great number or quantity I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys— William Shakespeare

b : a bewildering situation those moral wildernesses of civilized life— Norman Mailer

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about wilderness

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Examples of wilderness in a Sentence

She enjoys hikes through the wilderness. released the wolf back into the wilderness

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s story had always closely aligned with that of Exodus—the tale of a people who left behind an oppressive Old World to enter a wilderness and ultimately build a divinely inspired, promised land. — John F. Ross, Smithsonian, "The Visionary John Wesley Powell Had a Plan for Developing the West, But Nobody Listened," 3 July 2018 Now, there's the perfect Airbnb to live out your desert fantasy without straying too far into the wilderness. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "That Instagram-Famous Joshua Tree Home is Finally on Airbnb," 8 Mar. 2019 With the safest crossings clogged up, crossing through wilderness is the quickest way into US care. — Dara Lind, Vox, "The death of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin in Border Patrol custody isn’t an isolated outrage," 18 Dec. 2018 Ryan HiltonAuthentEscapesHe’s planned photography workshops in the bush, connected travelers with antipoaching teams, and coordinated a 10-day, 62-mile walking safari through raw wilderness. — Paul Brady, Condé Nast Traveler, "2018 Top Travel Specialists We Trust," 19 Oct. 2018 This year, the most viral commercial sensations of the Super Bowl took off before the event even started, from an epic journey through the wilderness to save nature with Melissa McCarthy to a sweet romantic gesture from Skittles. 1. — Lori Keong, Marie Claire, "The Must-See Super Bowl Commercials That Are Taking the Internet by Storm," 6 Feb. 2017 Visit Joshua Tree National Park Explore the desert's vast wilderness at Joshua Tree National Park, a spot that earned its moniker from its unique and photogenic inhabitant, the Joshua Tree. — Charlotte Chilton, Town & Country, "What to Do on Your Next Trip to Palm Springs," 5 Mar. 2019 Remember them in case you're ever marooned in an icy wilderness. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "8 Essential Tips from 'Arctic,' the Best Survival Movie in Years," 1 Feb. 2019 Idaho has about 540,000 acres of wilderness study areas tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. — Keith Ridler, The Seattle Times, "Legislation aims to reduce wilderness study areas in Idaho," 19 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wilderness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.