wilder

[ wil-der ]

/ ˈwɪl dər /

Archaic.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wilder ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to cause to lose one's way.

to bewilder.

verb (used without object)

to lose one's way.

to be bewildered.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of wilder

1605–15; perhaps extracted from wilderness; intransitive use probably by association with wander

OTHER WORDS FROM wilder

wil·der·ment, noun

Words nearby wilder

wildcatter, wilde, wilde, oscar, wildean, wildebeest, wilder, wilder, thornton, wilderness, wilderness area, wilderness road, wildfire

Definition for wilder (2 of 4)

wilder²

[ wahyl-der ]

/ ˈwaɪl dər /

adjective

comparative of wild.

Definition for wilder (3 of 4)

Wilder

[ wahyl-der ]

/ ˈwaɪl dər /

noun

BillySamuel Wilder,1906–2002, U.S. film director, producer, and writer; born in Austria.

Laura In·galls

[ing-guh lz] /ˈɪŋ gəlz/,1867–1957, U.S. writer of children's books.

Thorn·ton (Niv·en)

[thawrn-tn niv-uh n] /ˈθɔrn tn ˈnɪv ən/,1897–1975, U.S. novelist and playwright.

Definition for wilder (4 of 4)

wild

[ wahyld ]

/ waɪld /

adjective, wild·er, wild·est.

living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated: a wild animal; wild geese.

growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey: wild cherries.

uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste: wild country.

uncivilized or barbarous: wild tribes.

of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious: wild strife; wild storms.

characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance: wild cries; a wild look.

frantic or distracted; crazy: to drive someone wild.

violently or uncontrollably affected: wild with rage; wild with pain.

undisciplined, unruly, or lawless: a gang of wild boys.

unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled: wild enthusiasm.

disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence: He repented his wild youth.

unrestrained by reason or prudence: wild schemes.

amazing or incredible: Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?

disorderly or disheveled: wild hair.

wide of the mark: He scored on a wild throw.

Informal. intensely eager or enthusiastic: wild to get started; wild about the new styles.

Cards. (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.

Metallurgy. (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.

adverb

in a wild manner; wildly.

noun

Often wilds. an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert: a cabin in the wild; a safari to the wilds of Africa.

verb (used with object), wild·ed, wild·ing.

to travel around as a group, attacking or assaulting (people) in a random and violent way: The man was wilded and left for dead.

Origin of wild

before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis

SYNONYMS FOR wild

1 undomesticated, untamed, unbroken; ferocious.

4 barbarian, savage.

5 tempestuous, stormy, frenzied, turbulent.

6 boisterous.

7 insane.

9 self-willed, riotous, unrestrained, wayward.

10 uncontrollable.

12 reckless, rash, extravagant, impracticable.

13 grotesque, bizarre, strange, fanciful.

14 unkempt.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wild ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR wild

1 tame.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR wild ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM wild

wild·ly, adverbwild·ness, nounhalf-wild, adjectivehalf-wild·ly, adverb

half-wild·ness, nouno·ver·wild, adjectiveo·ver·wild·ly, adverbo·ver·wild·ness, nounsem·i·wild, adjectivesem·i·wild·ly, adverbsem·i·wild·ness, nounun·wild, adjectiveun·wild·ly, adverbun·wild·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for wilder

Some of the wilder criticisms of me notwithstanding, my column Monday made two basic points.
The Bowe Bergdahl Story Is Right-Wing Crack|Michael Tomasky|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The more the wine interacted with air, the wilder and more unbridled it turned.
Brunello’s King Lear: Gianfranco Soldera Reflects on the Attack on His Wine|Alice Feiring|December 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some of the wilder theories have percolated in the famously raucous Turkish press.
Speculation Swirls in Istanbul: What Happened to Sarai Sierra?|Mike Giglio|February 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Rumor has it that when Louis B. Mayer saw the film, he lambasted Wilder for biting the hand that fed him.
'The Artist,' 'Hugo,' and the History of Movies About Movies|Stephen Farber|December 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST

According to Wilder, members of the New Apostolic Reformation see Perry as their vehicle to claim the “mountain” of government.
A Christian Plot for Domination?|Michelle Goldberg|August 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Didn't I tender the consignee a beautiful oath, master Wilder?
The Red Rover|James Fenimore Cooper
The more they drank, the wilder and more melancholy the song became.
Alone with the Hairy Ainu|A. H. Savage Landor
Now the road grows wilder and wilder,—there is absolutely no sound save the moan of the distant ocean.
Wanderings in Ireland|Michael Myers Shoemaker
The features of his insanity were wilder and less controllable.
Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume I (of II)|Charles James Lever
And this Mexican revolution is bound to make rough times along some of the wilder passes across the border.
The Light of Western Stars|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (1 of 4)

wilder

/ (ˈwɪldə) /

verb archaic

to lead or be led astray

to bewilder or become bewildered

Derived forms of wilder

wilderment, noun

Word Origin for wilder

C17: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (2 of 4)

Wilder

/ (ˈwaɪldə) /

noun

Billy, real name Samuel Wilder. 1906–2002, US film director and screenwriter, born in Austria. His films include Double Indemnity (1944), The Lost Weekend (1945), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Some Like it Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), and Buddy Buddy (1981)

Thornton. 1897–1975 US novelist and dramatist. His works include the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) and the play The Skin of Our Teeth (1942)

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (3 of 4)

Wild

/ (waɪld) /

noun

Jonathan. ?1682–1725, British criminal, who organized a network of thieves, highwaymen, etc, while also working as an informer: said to have sent over a hundred men to the gallows before being hanged himself

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (4 of 4)

wild

/ (waɪld) /

adjective

(of animals) living independently of man; not domesticated or tame

(of plants) growing in a natural state; not cultivated

uninhabited or uncultivated; desolatea wild stretch of land

living in a savage or uncivilized waywild tribes

lacking restraintwild merriment

of great violence or intensitya wild storm

disorderly or chaoticwild thoughts; wild talk

dishevelled; untidywild hair

in a state of extreme emotional intensitywild with anger

recklesswild speculations

not calculated; randoma wild guess

unconventional; fantastic; crazywild friends

(postpositive foll by about) informal intensely enthusiastic or excited

(of a card, such as a joker or deuce in some games) able to be given any value the holder pleasesjacks are wild

wild and woolly

rough; untamed; barbarous
(of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out

adverb

in a wild manner

run wild

to grow without cultivation or care
to behave without restraint

noun

(often plural) a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region

the wild

a free natural state of living
the wilderness

Derived forms of wild

wildish, adjectivewildly, adverbwildness, noun

Word Origin for wild

Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheis

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

Idioms and Phrases with wilder

wild

In addition to the idioms beginning with wild

wild about, be
wild card
wild goose chase
wild horses couldn't drag me
wild oats
wild pitch

also see:

go hog wild
go wilding
run amok (wild)
sow one's wild oats

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WORD OF THE DAY

wilder

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of wilder

OTHER WORDS FROM wilder

Words nearby wilder

Definition for wilder (2 of 4)

adjective

Definition for wilder (3 of 4)

noun

Definition for wilder (4 of 4)

adjective, wild·er, wild·est.

adverb

noun

verb (used with object), wild·ed, wild·ing.

Origin of wild

SYNONYMS FOR wild

ANTONYMS FOR wild

OTHER WORDS FROM wild

Words related to wilder

Example sentences from the Web for wilder

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (1 of 4)

verb archaic

Derived forms of wilder

Word Origin for wilder

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (3 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (4 of 4)

adjective

adverb

noun

Derived forms of wild

Word Origin for wild

Idioms and Phrases with wilder