wilding

¹

[wahyl-ding]

noun

1. a wild apple tree.

2. its fruit.

3. any plant that grows wild.

4. a plant, originally cultivated, that now grows wild; an escape.

5. a wild animal.

adjective

1. not cultivated or domesticated; wild.

wilding

²

noun

1. the practice by a group of youths of going on a random spree of violent criminal activity.

2. an instance of this.

adjective

1. of or relating to such criminal activity.

   wilding teens;

   a wilding attack.

wilding

¹

/ ˈwaɪldɪŋ /

noun

1. an uncultivated plant, esp the crab apple, or a cultivated plant that has become wild

2. a wild animal

Wilding

²

/ ˈwaɪldɪŋ /

noun

1. ( Frederick ) Anthony . 1883–1915, New Zealand tennis player; Wimbledon singles champion (1910–1913) and doubles champion (1907–08, 1910, 1913)

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilding¹

First recorded in 1520–30; wild + -ing ³

Origin of wilding²

First recorded in 1985–90; wild + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

He’s also been wilding out on Truth Social, uncorking a series of posts that are unhinged, even for him.

From Salon

"Hollywood is on time out. I'm just going to put that right to the camera. Hollywood is wilding right now."

From Salon

And yes, he saw the kid in the blue dress shirt wilding out to the song in a clip from a recent Kamala Harris campaign rally.

From Los Angeles Times

He recalled the way that police seized on the term “wilding” after the Central Park Five case.

From Seattle Times

Before there were “rob mobs” there was “wilding” in the 1980s, in which groups of people gathered in public to cause chaos, vandalize or steal property.

From Washington Times