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
• 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

Adjective

While there is no state law that prohibits feeding feral cats, there is also no law authorizing it. — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Even island biogeography is having its way; the moose that dwell in the Bronx are unusually small, the feral cats of Manhattan strangely large. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Noun

Hathaway is no stranger to action movies, but seldom have her contributions to the form been so dirt-under-the-fingernails feral. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Showrunner Sam Levinson brought his own ideas, too, encouraging the team to move beyond the whimsical and the experimental into the feral. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019