wilderness

noun wil·der·ness \ ˈwil-dər-nəs \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Examples: wilderness in a Sentence

Definition of wilderness

1 a (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

3 a : 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

See wilderness defined for English-language learners

See wilderness defined for kids

Examples of wilderness in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of wilderness from the Web

The president’s plans to expand fossil fuels seem as boundless as the tracts of wilderness below.

— zack colman, Scientific American, "A Trump Oil Boom Could Transform This Rocky Mountain Landscape," 13 July 2018
On the other hand, extended ventures into the wilderness, such as tracking game trails in hope of a spot-and-stalk with no guarantee of success, is exciting for the wildlife expert and a dud for kids.

— tom stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Outdoor family vacations can bind or break," 24 June 2018
The more adventurous can commit to a multiday backpacking trip into the park’s 21,000 acres of wilderness.

— megan michelson, Outside Online, "6 Under-the-Radar National Parks You Should Visit," 20 June 2018
Any time of year is optimal to visit Delta Diner, just north of the wilderness on County Highway H in Delta.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cable is one of Wisconsin's best trail towns," 7 June 2018
The latest resort to emphasize par-three courses is Big Cedar Lodge, surrounded by 3,000 acres of Ozark Mountain wilderness 8 miles south of tourist magnet Branson, Mo., with its theme parks and country music bars.

— john paul newport, WSJ, "The New Golf Vacation: Quicker, Easier and More Fun," 31 May 2018
Libraries, concert halls, hospitals, homeless shelters, even vast expanses of pristine wilderness—these are things that, once bought and paid for, can be seen, experienced, and enjoyed.

— felix salmon, WIRED, "Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Ethically Iffy ‘Philanthropy," 15 May 2018
The backdrop to this placid scene of idyllic human industry in the remote wilderness is an imposing mountain in the Cascade Range.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "Grafton Tyler Brown's California scenes at Pasadena museum's final show," 30 June 2018
The wilderness setting was a 1,200-acre forest called Griffy Lake Nature Preserve; the 33-acre urban park had a playground, walking paths, and grass fields; and the gym was a standard fitness center.

— alex hutchinson, Outside Online, "Why "Wilder" Nature Is Better for Your Health," 27 June 2018

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.