feral

adjective fe·ral \ˈfir-əl, ˈfer-; ˈfe-rəl\

: of, relating to, or resembling a wild beast

—used to describe an animal (such as a cat or dog) that has escaped and become wild

Full Definition of FERAL

: of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast <feral teeth> <feral instincts>

a : not domesticated or cultivated : wild

b : having escaped from domestication and become wild <feral cats>

— feral noun

See feral defined for English-language learners

See feral defined for kids

Origin of FERAL

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

First Known Use: 1604

Related to FERAL

Synonyms: wild, savage, unbroken, undomesticated, untamed, wilding

Antonyms: broken, busted, domestic, domesticated, gentled, tame, tamed

Synonym Discussion of FERAL

brutal, brutish, bestial, feral mean characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct. brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity <a senseless and brutal war>. brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct <brutish stupidity>. bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts <bestial depravity>. feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals <the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses>.