Feral animals are wild animals that are not owned or controlled by anyone, especially ones that belong to species which are normally owned and kept by people.
[formal]
...feral cats.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something or someone as feral, you mean that they seem wild, fierce, and uncontrolled.
[literary]
...the prowling, feral guitars underpinned by metronomic drum beats.
More Synonyms of feral
feral in British English1
(ˈfɪərəl, ˈfɛr-)
adjective
1. Also: ferine
(of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated
2. Also: ferine
savage; brutal
3. Australian derogatory, slang
(of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance
noun
4. Australian derogatory, slang
a person who displays such tendencies and appearance
5. Australian slang
disgusting
6. Australian slang
excellent
Word origin
C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis, from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage
feral in British English2
(ˈfɪərəl, ˈfɛr-)
adjective archaic
1. astrology
associated with death
2.
gloomy; funereal
Word origin
C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry
feral in American English
(ˈfɪrəl; ˈfɛrəl)
adjective
1.
a.
untamed; wild
b.
having returned to a wild condition
2.
savage; fierce
Word origin
ML feralis < L fera, wild animal < ferus, fierce + -al
Examples of 'feral' in a sentence
feral
The feral animals have begun venturing into towns in the hunt for food as winter bites.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
By the time they had shared an ad hoc hot tub together, it was clear our host had gone completely feral.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The howls of stray dogs put a feral edge on the night.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We had to bring in some feral cats.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Some of those guys have gone feral.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The plan to kill all the feral cats was controversial.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So it is with street crime and feral youths.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He thought of the feral cat which had come to his flat.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
He has been outraged by the sight of feral youths running amok.
The Sun (2010)
The population of feral dogs soared.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They were raised like feral animals without love, affection or guidance.
The Sun (2013)
There he had gone feral, foraging for food.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
By taking the food they do, they restrict the spread of rats and feral dogs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Apart from a few feral cats, little now stirs in this apocalyptic place.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The presenter was out walking his dog Inca in London this week when the feral animal pounced.
The Sun (2011)
It's a feral, untamed animal.
The Sun (2013)
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of animals and plants) existing in a wild state, esp. after being domestic or cultivated
There are many feral cats roaming the area.
Synonyms
wild
The organization is calling for a total ban on the trade of wild animals.
untamed
acting like wild, untamed animals
uncultivated
undomesticated
unbroken
The car plunged like an unbroken horse.
2 (adjective)
Definition
savage
the feral scowl of the mugger
Synonyms
savage
This was a savage and needless attack.
fierce
the teeth of some fierce animal
brutal
He was the victim of a very brutal attack.
ferocious
By its nature a lion is ferocious.
fell
wild
the wild tribes which still roam the northern plains with their horse herds
vicious
He suffered a vicious attack by a group of gang members.
bestial
the bestial conditions into which the city has sunk
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bestial
Definition
brutal or savage
the bestial conditions into which the city has sunk
Synonyms
brutal,
low,
animal,
gross,
savage,
beastly (informal),
primitive,
degraded,
sensual,
vile,
sordid,
barbaric,
inhuman,
depraved,
carnal,
brutish,
barbarous,
scungy (Australian, New Zealand),
beastlike
in the sense of brutal
Definition
cruel
He was the victim of a very brutal attack.
Synonyms
cruel,
harsh,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
ruthless,
ferocious,
callous,
sadistic,
heartless,
atrocious,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
inhumane,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
uncivilized,
hard-hearted
in the sense of fell
Synonyms
cruel,
bloody,
fierce,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
ruthless,
relentless,
ferocious,
murderous,
malicious,
malignant,
inhuman,
merciless,
implacable,
barbarous,
pitiless,
sanguinary (formal)
Nearby words of
feral
fend
fend for yourself
fend something or someone off
feral
ferment
fermentation
fern
Synonyms of 'feral'
feral
Explore 'feral' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ferocious
Definition
savagely fierce or cruel
By its nature a lion is ferocious.
Synonyms
fierce,
violent,
savage,
ravening,
predatory,
feral,
rapacious,
wild
in the sense of fierce
Definition
very aggressive or angry
the teeth of some fierce animal
Synonyms
ferocious,
wild,
dangerous,
cruel,
savage,
brutal,
aggressive,
menacing,
vicious,
fiery,
murderous,
uncontrollable,
feral,
untamed,
barbarous,
fell (archaic),
threatening,
baleful,
truculent,
tigerish,
aggers (Australian, slang),
biffo (Australian, slang)
in the sense of unbroken
Definition
(of animals, esp. horses) not tamed
The car plunged like an unbroken horse.
Synonyms
untamed,
wild,
undomesticated
in the sense of untamed
Definition
not brought under human control
acting like wild, untamed animals
Synonyms
wild,
fierce,
savage,
unbroken,
uncontrollable,
feral,
barbarous,
untameable,
undomesticated,
not broken in
in the sense of vicious
Definition
(of an animal) fierce or hostile
He suffered a vicious attack by a group of gang members.