wilder; wildest
1
a
of an animal
: living in nature without human control or care : not tame
wild ducks/animals
b
of a plant
: growing or produced in nature : not grown or farmed by people
wild blueberries/grapes/honey
c
of land
: not changed by people : not settled or developed
wild places high in the mountains
Few species can survive in this wild [=savage] landscape.
2
: uncontrolled and dangerous
I felt a wild rage.
He was wild with anger.
He had a wild [=crazy] look in his eyes.
3
: very enthusiastic or excited
wild laughter
wild revelers
The crowd went wild when the band took the stage.
4
: going far beyond what is normal or usual
They painted the rooms with some wild colors.
He has some pretty wild [=strange] ideas about raising children.
He told us a wild story about their camping trip.
The company was successful beyond my wildest dreams/fantasies. [=much more successful than I ever thought possible]
5
a
: noisy and disorganized
The party was getting kind of wild [=out of control] so we left.
wild protests
b
: very enjoyable, lively, and exciting
It was a wild party.
He loves the city's wild nightclub scene.
c
: actively seeking excitement or pleasure
He was pretty wild when he was a young man.
6
: made without knowledge or information : not based on facts
That's just a wild guess.
7
of a playing card
: able to represent any other playing card
In this game, jokers are wild.
8
: done without accuracy or control
The shortstop made a wild throw to first base.
9
: very stormy or violent
It was a wild night of heavy snow and strong winds.
a wild [=rough, turbulent] sea
1
: a large area of land where people do not live and where plants, trees, etc., grow freely : wilderness
They hiked through the wilds of Maine.
2
: a wild, free, or natural place, state, or existence
The plants were collected from the wild.
They will return the animal to the wild when it is healthy.
Could these animals survive in the wild?
I've only seen that animal in a zoo, never in the wild.
: without being controlled
These plants grow wild on the roadside.
Cite this Entry
“Wild.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/wild. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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