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 For a wilderness experience (but in a cabin), book a spot at Gunflint Lodge, one of our top picks for Midwest lake resorts. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 7 Aug. 2026 His canine companion is Odin (played by a pooch named Uber), who rescues James after their crash and embarks on a journey of survival in the wilderness. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 By driving Etna’s drifting itinerary with the quest to return home, Yoon invokes the pastoral nostalgia that has characterized the canine tradition’s man-dog battles against the brutal wilderness. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 All are things that could only have been dreamed of during their 15 years in the non-League wilderness until 2023, when only the devotion of those same fans kept the lights on. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wilderness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilderness
  1. wild
  2. desert
  3. country
  4. outdoors
Noun
  • Though The Next Pro hasn’t yet taken viewers out into the open wilds of Australia, Irwin doesn’t see his duties at DWTS and the Australia Zoo as mutually exclusive.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026
  • Some of this may sound a little wild.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
Definition of wild
Noun
  • Inca road system Wikimedia Commons The Inca developed a road network stretching roughly 25,000 miles across mountains, valleys, and deserts.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Scheffler ended nearly seven months without winning, a season that has been marked by astonishing consistency but only one trophy to show for it from his season opener at The American Express in the California desert.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of desert
Noun
  • Addressing thousands of officials and delegates at the Great Hall of the People, Xi portrayed China as a country that was facing tough times, but one that would emerge unscathed.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • However, no other peer country separates the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine as the president has now ordered.
    — Amanda Seitz, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • Not many indoor cats like leashes or traversing the great outdoors with their person.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This exercise immerses you in the outdoors and encourages you to appreciate even the smallest patches of green.
    — Jancee Dunn, New York Times, 25 June 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wilderness

Nglish: Translation of wilderness for Spanish Speakers

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