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Synonyms

feral

1 American  
[feer-uhl, fer-] / ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr- /

adjective

  1. existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild.

  2. having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication.

    a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

  3. of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.

feral 2 American  
[feer-uhl, fer-] / ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr- /

adjective

  1. causing death; fatal.

  2. funereal; gloomy.

feral 1 British  
/ ˈfɛr-, ˈfɪərəl /

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. derogatory (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. derogatory a person who displays such tendencies and appearance

  2. slang disgusting

  3. slang excellent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
feral 2 British  
/ ˈfɛr-, ˈfɪərəl /

adjective

  1. astrology associated with death

  2. gloomy; funereal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
feral Scientific  
/ fîr′əl,fĕr′- /

  1. Existing in a wild or untamed state, either naturally or having returned to such a state from domestication.

Etymology

Origin of feral1

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis “bestial, wild,” from Latin fer(a) “wild beast” + -ālis -al 1

Origin of feral1

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin fērālis “of the dead, funerary, fatal”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I was immediately besotted by the band’s hookiness, the way their songs felt both precise and slightly feral.

From Salon

The sect is known as the Shaking Quakers, for their combination of a Quakerish faith in the individual spiritual experience and a worship style characterized by a feral sort of dancing.

From The Wall Street Journal

But recreational hunting contributes a "valuable social good" to Australia, argues Mr Kenyon, saying that hunters remove millions of feral animals such as rabbits, foxes and cats.

From BBC

His security cameras once captured a bobcat walking past a feral cat on his property.

From Los Angeles Times

It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.