Feral Definition in a Sentence
fe·ral | \ ˈfir-əl 
, ˈfer- ; ˈfe-rəl \
Essential Meaning of feral
1 : of, relating to, or resembling a wild beast feral instincts They led a feral existence.
2 — used to describe an animal (such as a cat or dog) that has escaped and become wild feral cats
Full Definition of feral
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
Other Words from feral
feral noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for feral
Synonyms
- savage ,
- unbroken ,
- undomesticated ,
- untamed ,
- wild ,
- wilding
Antonyms
- broken ,
- busted ,
- domestic ,
- domesticated ,
- gentled ,
- tame ,
- tamed
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Choose the Right Synonym for feral
brutal, brutish, bestial, feral mean characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct. brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity. a senseless and brutal war brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct. brutish stupidity bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts. bestial depravity feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals. the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses
Examples of feral in a Sentence
They led a feral existence. animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets
Recent Examples on the Web Waves crash against the sea wall, which sits below a steep bank of weeds — susuki (Japanese pampas grass), Japanese mugwort and feral hydrangea. — New York Times, 3 Dec. 2021 What looks like an evening soap opera often behaves like a feral satire. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2021 What follows is a heroine's journey as Anna tries to extract Pietro from a gang of feral kids called the Blues, lead by a deranged adolescent princess who keeps a mysteriously healthy adult chained in a palace. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2021 The feral roar of dirt-bike engines intermingles with small talk as a dozen or so riders clad in Carhartt windbreakers and denim jackets linger in front of a juice bar on St. Nicholas Avenue. — Paula Aceves, Curbed, 9 Nov. 2021 There's something both feral and fertile in the rich sonic mulch of Aaron Dilloway, the psychoacoustic environments of Maryanne Amacher and the thick digital thickets of Editions Mego founder Peter Rehberg (who died of a heart attack this year). — Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2021 Is there danger involved in trapping feral animals? — Brenda Cain, cleveland, 28 Oct. 2021 Keith Bearcat Lee is a far more feral version of Keith Lee. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2021 Marketing research commissioned by the Hawaiian Humane Society in 2015 estimated Oahu alone had 300,000 feral cats. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2021
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'feral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of feral
1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1
History and Etymology for feral
Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild — more at fierce
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Cite this Entry
"Feral." Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feral. Accessed 9 Dec. 2021.
More Definitions for feral
fe·ral | \ ˈfir-əl , ˈfer- \
Kids Definition of feral
: having escaped from the care of people and become wild feral pigs
Feral Definition in a Sentence
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feral