Synonyms of feral

feral 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfir-əl 

1

as in wild

living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans

animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wild
• wilding
• savage
• untamed
• undomesticated
• unbroken
• uncontrolled
• brute
• untrained
• bestial
• brutal
• uncivilized
• barbarous
• undocile
• unsubdued

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• domestic
• domesticated
• tame
• tamed
• broken
• controlled
• docile
• busted
• submissive
• subdued
• familiar
• gentled
• trained
• civilized
• semidomesticated
• socialized
• housebroken
• halterbroken
• semicivilized

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

• brute
• brutal
• animal
• animalistic
• bestial
• savage
• brutish
• subhuman
• beastly
• swinish
• ferine
• cruel
• vicious
• physical
• sensual
• coarse
• corporeal
• crass
• rude
• corporal
• barbaric
• sadistic
• carnal
• bodily
• barbarous
• heartless
• inhumane
• vulgar
• uncouth
• fleshly
• uncultured
• gross
• crude
• wanton
• uncultivated
• unrefined
• ill-bred
• lowbred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noble
• sublime
• high
• chivalrous
• gallant
• great
• spiritual
• elevated
• lordly
• angelic
• magnanimous
• lofty
• benevolent
• compassionate
• kind
• high-minded
• kindly
• beneficent
• angelical
• cultured
• genteel
• cultivated
• greathearted
• polished
• refined
• softhearted
• kindhearted
• good-hearted
• benignant
• tenderhearted
• well-bred

feral

2 of 2

noun

as in animal

Related Words

• animal
• beastie
• critter
• creature
• vertebrate
• brute
• carnivore
• herbivore
• beast
• vermin
• pet
• insectivore
• varmint
• livestock
• domestic animal
• blastie
• biped
• quadruped
• stock

Dissimilar Words

• invertebrate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective feral differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of feral are bestial, brutal, and brutish. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

In what contexts can bestial take the place of feral?

While the synonyms bestial and feral are close in meaning, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

When would brutal be a good substitute for feral?

Although the words brutal and feral have much in common, brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When is brutish a more appropriate choice than feral?

The meanings of brutish and feral largely overlap; however, brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of feral

Noun

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