feral

[ feer-uh l, fer- ]

/ ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR feral ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication: a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.

Nearby words

Origin of feral

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis bestial, wild, equivalent to Latin fer(a) wild beast + -ālis -al¹

feral

[ feer-uh l, fer- ]

/ ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr- /

adjective

causing death; fatal.

funereal; gloomy.

Origin of feral

First recorded in 1615–25, feral is from the Latin word fērālis of the dead, funerary, fatal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for feral

Rather, she shows us: that spandex clad ass twerking in the jungle, surrounded by a feral pack of similarly well fed asses?
Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’ Is Too Much Booty for One Man to Handle|Amy Zimmerman|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The “Aduba double-take,” a phenomenon that fans of the show often fall victim to, is truly a testament to her feral performance.
‘Orange Is the New Black’ Star Uzo Aduba on Her Journey From Track Phenom to Crazy Eyes|Marlow Stern|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But then, with their contorted physiques and feral grimaces they speak directly to the Basquiats.
The Art World’s New Gang War|Anthony Haden-Guest|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Devastated, she climbed with feral intensity, hoping the baby might spontaneously abort.
Breaking Mount Everest’s Glass Ceiling|Amanda Padoan, Peter Zuckerman|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As Jordan Belfort, a charismatic monster of a stockbroker, DiCaprio is a feral beast; the id incarnate.
Why Leonardo DiCaprio, Who Wows in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ Deserves to (Finally) Win An Oscar|Marlow Stern|February 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He becomes an outlaw, to be dealt with as any other feral creature.
Aphorisms and Reflections from the Works of T. H. Huxley|T. H. Huxley
Travis' own tongue ran across his lips as an impression hit him with feral force.
The Defiant Agents|Andre Alice Norton
They exist in a feral state in the mountainous parts of our island, and throughout Europe and Western Asia.
Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals|R. Lee
According to Rauber, this is one of the most frequently quoted of feral cases.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
In Cuba the feral dogs are described by Poeppig as nearly all mouse-coloured, with short ears and light-blue eyes.
The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Vol. I.|Charles Darwin

British Dictionary definitions for feral

feral

/ (ˈfɪərəl, ˈfɛr-) /

adjective

Also: ferine (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated

Also: ferine savage; brutal

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

noun

Australian derogatory, slang a person who displays such tendencies and appearance

Australian slang disgusting

Australian slang excellent

Word Origin for feral

C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis, from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage

adjective archaic

astrology associated with death

gloomy; funereal

Word Origin for feral

C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry

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

Word Origin and History for feral