feral
adjective
fe·ral ˈfir-əl 
ˈfer-;
ˈfe-rəl 1
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
feral teeth
feral instincts
2
a
: not domesticated or cultivated : wild
feral animals
b
: having escaped from domestication and become wild
feral cats
feral noun
Synonyms
- savage
- unbroken
- undomesticated
- untamed
- wild
- wilding
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They led a feral existence. animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets
Recent Examples on the Web So when rabies takes hold in a raccoon population, the virus tends to spread to other animals: feral cats, foxes, unvaccinated dogs, even humans. 
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Dear Cathy, Does anyone make cat food that can be given to feral cats to keep them from getting pregnant? Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Sep. 2022 At night, hatchlings can be lured to their deaths by condo lights or gobbled up by foxes, racoons and feral cats. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Many homes are now abandoned or in poor shape, feral cats roam the property, and water lines, which date back to the amusement park days, are in serious disrepair. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 The best time to catch feral cats is between 10:30 p.m. and midnight in the summer, and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 This change is reflected in hormone levels observed in this study and beyond; other researchers have found that cortisol concentrations are higher in European wildcats than in feral cats. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 27 July 2022 In this version, directed by Zambello and Brenna Corner, Mowgli, the feral boy raised by a pack of wolves, is a girl (the sweet-voiced, impish Lily Grady). New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Also called burros, feral donkeys travel in herds, seeking out water sources in small wetland oases, often trampling vegetation in the process. Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Dear Cathy, Does anyone make cat food that can be given to feral cats to keep them from getting pregnant? Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Sep. 2022 At night, hatchlings can be lured to their deaths by condo lights or gobbled up by foxes, racoons and feral cats. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Many homes are now abandoned or in poor shape, feral cats roam the property, and water lines, which date back to the amusement park days, are in serious disrepair. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 The best time to catch feral cats is between 10:30 p.m. and midnight in the summer, and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 This change is reflected in hormone levels observed in this study and beyond; other researchers have found that cortisol concentrations are higher in European wildcats than in feral cats. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 27 July 2022 In this version, directed by Zambello and Brenna Corner, Mowgli, the feral boy raised by a pack of wolves, is a girl (the sweet-voiced, impish Lily Grady). New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Also called burros, feral donkeys travel in herds, seeking out water sources in small wetland oases, often trampling vegetation in the process. Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild — more at fierce
First Known Use
1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
feral
adjective
fe·ral ˈfir-əl
ˈfer-
: having escaped from the care of people and become wild
feral pigs
feral 1 of 2
adjective
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
Relevance
- wild
- wilding
- savage
- undomesticated
- untamed
- unbroken
- uncontrolled
- brute
- bestial
- untrained
- brutal
- uncivilized
- unsubdued
- barbarous
- undocile
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- domesticated
- domestic
- tame
- tamed
- docile
- controlled
- broken
- submissive
- busted
- subdued
- familiar
- gentled
- civilized
- trained
- socialized
- semidomesticated
- 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
- savage
- bestial
- brutish
- ferine
- subhuman
- beastly
- swinish
- vicious
- cruel
- sensual
- physical
- crass
- corporeal
- coarse
- barbaric
- sadistic
- bodily
- corporal
- carnal
- rude
- heartless
- inhumane
- barbarous
- uncouth
- uncultured
- vulgar
- wanton
- unrefined
- uncultivated
- fleshly
- crude
- gross
- ill-bred
- lowbred
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- noble
- sublime
- chivalrous
- angelic
- gallant
- high
- lordly
- spiritual
- magnanimous
- elevated
- great
- benevolent
- lofty
- angelical
- compassionate
- softhearted
- kind
- high-minded
- genteel
- kindhearted
- beneficent
- kindly
- cultivated
- cultured
- greathearted
- tenderhearted
- refined
- benignant
- polished
- good-hearted
- well-bred
feral
2 of 2noun
as in animal
Synonyms & Similar Words
- animal
- beastie
- critter
- carnivore
- brute
- pet
- creature
- vertebrate
- vermin
- herbivore
- beast
- varmint
- livestock
- insectivore
- domestic animal
- blastie
- biped
- quadruped
- stock
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- invertebrate
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
- three-step
- three-striper
- three-syllable law
- three-tailed porgy
- three-thorned acacia
- three-throw
- three-toed plover
- three-toed sloth
- three-toed woodpecker
- three-toes
- three-toothed cinquefoil
- three-valued
- three-volumer
- three-way
- three-way bulb
- three-way cross
- three-way lamp
- three-way switch
- three-wheeler
- three-wire generator
- three-wire system
- threed
- threefold
- threefold purchase
- threefold tackle