wilderness

noun

ˈwil-dər-nəs How to pronounce wilderness (audio)
Definition of wildernessnext
as in wild
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation released the wolf back into the wilderness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wilderness The rule was the culmination of a sweeping inventory of land conducted by the Forest Service in which the agency had marked certain forests as prime acreage for wilderness protection. — Kirk Siegler, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026 One stretch of the vast Western Australia wilderness is imprinted with a curious crater, which likely formed after a meteor impact hundreds of millions of years ago. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Some of the oil fields are deep within the Orinoco Belt, a virtual wilderness in central-eastern Venezuela posing major technical challenges. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 Count Dani Watt as the lone voice in the NFL wilderness questioning the league's wisdom about playing Sunday's game in France amid civil unrest that has rocked Paris and other parts of the country. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wilderness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilderness
  1. wild
  2. desert
  3. country
  4. outdoors
Noun
  • The result is a movie of dazzling conundrums and vertiginous paradoxes, leading Fielder ever deeper into emotional and intellectual wilds.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Remember, this is an old-school program operating in a wild-west, NIL, transfer-portal landscape.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of wild
Noun
  • Algiers to Djanet—a little oasis town in Algeria’s southeast near the Libya and Niger borders—is a two-hour flight, usually scheduled in the middle of the night (to avoid desert winds during the day, so I was told).
    — Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Tozeur is the main base for visiting Mos Espa, Ong Jemel and Jebel Sidi Bouhlel, with local operators offering half-day and full-day 4x4 excursions into the desert.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of desert
Noun
  • There is no evidence that foreign countries intentionally emptied prisons or mental institutions and sent people to the United States.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • State judges who take these cases look for proof that applicants cannot safely return to their home country, have been abused, abandoned or neglected by one or both parents, and that reunification with a parent is not possible.
    — Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • It was not known why the anchor failed, but the heavy snowstorm was not a direct factor, according to the statement, which commended the college students for their love of the outdoors and preparation for the climbing trip.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Here, any distinction between spa and safari collapses, and the outdoors and wellness weave together.
    — Adrienne Matei, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of outdoors

Browse Nearby Words

wild and woolly
wilderness
wildfire
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wilderness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilderness. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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