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

Relevance

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
  • Number 2, because the Permian lies in a desert where freshwater is precious.
    — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • When my wife and I were planning a quick summer getaway with our two teenage daughters, heading to the desert was an easy choice.
    — Mike Avila, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of desert
Noun
  • Marina was adamant to the federal agents that her former husband could never have given secrets to another country.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Our country has used science to make society safer and healthier over time, improving lives, making jobs safer, and preventing early deaths.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 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 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on wilderness

Nglish: Translation of wilderness for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All