feral
/ˈfɛr(ə)l
/ /ˈfɪərəl/adjective
1(Especially of an animal) in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication: a feral cat...
- The electricians will have to watch out for snakes in the water, wild animals and feral dogs.
- The impact of both domestic and feral cats on small native animal wildlife and birds is a controversial issue in Australia.
- If, however, the cat and kitten are feral, you might consider keeping the kitten.
Synonyms
wild, untamed, undomesticated, untrained, unused to humans;
unbroken, not broken in;
British not house-trained;
North American not housebroken
1.1Resembling or characteristic of a wild animal: his teeth were bared in a feral snarl...
- Her eyes are partially closed as she lies there panting, the remains of a feral snarl becoming a sated smile.
- He struck a match and the stranger came closer for a moment, bringing with him a feral smell.
- Sturges was also quick to spot the feral intensity of Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine's brutal boorishness, using them to give Bad Day At Black Rock its seething core of twisted hatred.
Synonyms
fierce, ferocious, vicious, savage, aggressive, tigerish, wolfish, predatory, menacing, threatening, bloodthirsty
1.2(Of a young person) behaving in a wildly undisciplined and antisocial way: gangs of feral youths...
- Michael's family called for his killers to be given long jail sentences as a deterrent to 'the feral youths who terrorise our society'.
- Anti-social behaviour, feral youth and weakening of communities form a triad of concerns that cuts across politics.
- Feral children roaming neighbourhoods do cause great distress.
noun Australian derogatory
A person with an unconventional appearance and lifestyle, and anti-establishment views: we expected bearded ferals chaining themselves to trees in protest...
- The name comes from Australia's green extremists, which the Aussies call "ferals."
- The police had blocked off the road out of Hyde Park to prevent the ferals from marching down to the restricted area.
- Ahhhh … the old "all lefties are smelly ferals" line again.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin fera 'wild animal' (from ferus 'wild') + -al.