1
as in wild
living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans
animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
a novel that reveals just how thin the veneer of civilization is and how feral we are at bottom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in animal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of feral
James Grebey, Time, 20 June 2025
There are tribes of fast, feral predators that resemble the second coming of neanderthals.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
Screenshots from a May 4 TikTok video of a feral cat finally trusting the woman who fed him for five years during his last day.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
There is no dispute between the parties over trapping, spaying or neutering and then releasing feral cats, which are unsocialized.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for feral
Noun
Advertisement Dawn of the Dead (1978) There's a credible case to be made that Romero's 1973 movie The Crazies, about a biological weapon that causes residents of a small town to go feral, qualifies as a zombie movie.
—James Grebey, Time, 20 June 2025
There are tribes of fast, feral predators that resemble the second coming of neanderthals.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
Screenshots from a May 4 TikTok video of a feral cat finally trusting the woman who fed him for five years during his last day.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
There is no dispute between the parties over trapping, spaying or neutering and then releasing feral cats, which are unsocialized.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for feral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feral
Adjective
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Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale accessory deals Some pretty wild things are going on over in the accessories department, where high-summer necessities like city bags and sleek sunglasses are up to 45% off.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
8 July 2025
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Fortune Feimster partnered with Johnsonville, the popular sausage brand, for a wild Fourth of July bash at Summerfest in Milwaukee.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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However, kindness possesses its own power, exerting a force more enduring than brute strength.—
Jennifer Boulanger,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
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Instead of overpowering her adversaries with brute strength, Eve is taught to get creative and utilize whatever is around her— including ice skates, pots and pans — as weapons to defend herself.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
How to prevent exposure to the plague To prevent exposure to plague, Coconino County officials have the following tips: Avoid contact with wild animals.—
Stephanie Innes,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
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Police apology Police said officers will receive additional training on the statute that allows first responders to enter a vehicle to protect the health and safety of an animal.—
Sydney Sasser
July 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The mini tubs are portable, mess-free, and endlessly useful, especially on long flights where dry cabin air can be brutal.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
11 July 2025
-
The Eastern Conference is wide open after the brutal injuries to both Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton during the playoffs, and now the Knicks are saddled with the expectations of excellence.—
Tom Rende,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Most of the remaining beasties now live on remote islands near the equator, and most humans would conveniently like to forget them.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
30 June 2025
-
That hybrid classification extends to recent hits such as Minecraft and Sonic the Hedgehog, which combine live actors with CGI beasties.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
Noun
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In various sequences, kids and critters alike are in danger where Superman has to save them – including a curious squirrel.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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The 40-acre facility has among its list of roughly 1,600 critters, penguins, binturongs, sharks, dingoes, Flemish giant rabbits, servals, tree frogs, capuchin monkeys, moon jellyfish, pythons and orangutans.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
The creatures move confidently across the island's terrain, both vast and cramped, and often emerge with a vampire's stealth from shadows, smoke and night itself.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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Ramsey’s peaceful shark encounters caught on film go against Hollywood’s demonization of sharks and unwind our cultural frenzy that these creatures are to be feared.—
Alexandra Gillespie,
Outside Online,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feral. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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