Feral — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈfir-əl/ fe·ral

Meaning & Definition of Feral

Feral (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
  2. not domesticated or cultivated, wild
  3. having escaped from domestication and become wild

Feral (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans

    "animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets"

    similar: savage, unbroken, undomesticated, untamed, wild, wilding
    related: uncontrolled, undocile, unsubdued, untrained, bestial, brutal, brute, barbarous, uncivilized
    opposite: broken, busted, domestic, domesticated, gentled, tame, tamed
    near: controlled, docile, familiar, semidomesticated, subdued, submissive, halterbroken, housebroken, trained, civilized, semicivilized, socialized

  2. having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal

    "a novel that reveals just how thin the veneer of civilization is and how feral we are at bottom"

    similar: animalistic, beastly, bestial, brutal, brute, brutish, ferine, subhuman, swinish
    related: animal, bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly, physical, sensual, barbaric, barbarous, cruel, heartless, inhumane, sadistic, savage, vicious, wanton, coarse, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, lowbred, rude, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unrefined, vulgar
    near: chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, noble, sublime, angelic, spiritual, beneficent, benevolent, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, softhearted, tenderhearted, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, well-bred

Feral (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in animal, critter

    similar: animal, beast, beastie, brute, creature, critter, vertebrate, carnivore, herbivore, insectivore, blastie (Scottish), varmint, vermin, domestic animal, pet, livestock, stock, biped, quadruped
    opposite: invertebrate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Feral

The most common words with a similar meaning to Feral:

Scottish: blastie
savage, unbroken, undomesticated, untamed, wild, wilding, animalistic, beastly, bestial, brutal, brute, brutish, ferine, subhuman, swinish, animal, beast, beastie, creature, critter, vertebrate, carnivore, herbivore, insectivore, varmint, vermin, domestic animal, pet, livestock, stock, biped, quadruped

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Feral

Words with the opposite meaning of Feral:

broken, busted, domestic, domesticated, gentled, tame, tamed, invertebrate

Related Words for Feral

uncontrolled, undocile, unsubdued, untrained, barbarous, uncivilized, bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly, physical, sensual, barbaric, cruel, heartless, inhumane, sadistic, vicious, wanton, coarse, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, lowbred, rude, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured

Near Antonyms of Feral

controlled, docile, familiar, semidomesticated, subdued, submissive, halterbroken, housebroken, trained, civilized, semicivilized, socialized, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, noble, sublime, angelic, spiritual, beneficent, benevolent, benignant, compassionate

Word Forms of Feral

Derived words: feral (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Feral

Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild fierce

First known use: 1604

Frequently Asked Questions about Feral

What does "Feral" mean?

"Feral" means of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Feral"?

Other words for "Feral" include savage, unbroken, undomesticated, untamed, wild, wilding, animalistic and beastly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Feral" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Feral"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Feral". Common alternatives include savage, unbroken, undomesticated, untamed, wild, wilding, animalistic, beastly, bestial and brutal.

What is the opposite of "Feral"?

Antonyms of "Feral" include broken, busted, domestic, domesticated, gentled, tame, tamed and invertebrate. Near antonyms include controlled, docile, familiar and semidomesticated.

How do you use "Feral" in a sentence?

Examples of "Feral" in a sentence: "animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets"; "a novel that reveals just how thin the veneer of civilization is and how feral we are at bottom".

Is "Feral" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Feral" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Feral"?

"Feral" is pronounced /ˈfir-əl/ and divided into syllables as fe·ral.

What is the origin of the word "Feral"?

"Feral" comes from Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild fierce. First known use: 1604.