feral
adjective
fe·ral ˈfir-əl 
ˈfer-;
ˈfe-rəl 1
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
feral teeth
feral instincts
2
a
: not domesticated or cultivated : wild
feral animals
b
: having escaped from domestication and become wild
feral cats
feral noun
Synonyms
- savage
- unbroken
- undomesticated
- untamed
- wild
- wilding
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They led a feral existence. animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets
Recent Examples on the Web So when rabies takes hold in a raccoon population, the virus tends to spread to other animals: feral cats, foxes, unvaccinated dogs, even humans. 
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Dear Cathy, Does anyone make cat food that can be given to feral cats to keep them from getting pregnant? Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Sep. 2022 At night, hatchlings can be lured to their deaths by condo lights or gobbled up by foxes, racoons and feral cats. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Many homes are now abandoned or in poor shape, feral cats roam the property, and water lines, which date back to the amusement park days, are in serious disrepair. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 The best time to catch feral cats is between 10:30 p.m. and midnight in the summer, and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 This change is reflected in hormone levels observed in this study and beyond; other researchers have found that cortisol concentrations are higher in European wildcats than in feral cats. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 27 July 2022 In this version, directed by Zambello and Brenna Corner, Mowgli, the feral boy raised by a pack of wolves, is a girl (the sweet-voiced, impish Lily Grady). New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Also called burros, feral donkeys travel in herds, seeking out water sources in small wetland oases, often trampling vegetation in the process. Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Dear Cathy, Does anyone make cat food that can be given to feral cats to keep them from getting pregnant? Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Sep. 2022 At night, hatchlings can be lured to their deaths by condo lights or gobbled up by foxes, racoons and feral cats. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Many homes are now abandoned or in poor shape, feral cats roam the property, and water lines, which date back to the amusement park days, are in serious disrepair. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 The best time to catch feral cats is between 10:30 p.m. and midnight in the summer, and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 This change is reflected in hormone levels observed in this study and beyond; other researchers have found that cortisol concentrations are higher in European wildcats than in feral cats. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 27 July 2022 In this version, directed by Zambello and Brenna Corner, Mowgli, the feral boy raised by a pack of wolves, is a girl (the sweet-voiced, impish Lily Grady). New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Also called burros, feral donkeys travel in herds, seeking out water sources in small wetland oases, often trampling vegetation in the process. Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin feralis, from Latin fera wild animal, from feminine of ferus wild — more at fierce
First Known Use
1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
feral
adjective
fe·ral ˈfir-əl
ˈfer-
: having escaped from the care of people and become wild
feral pigs
ferals
noun
as in animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- animals
- critters
- beasties
- carnivores
- creatures
- pets
- brutes
- vermin
- herbivores
- varmints
- vertebrates
- insectivores
- beasts
- domestic animals
- bipeds
- livestocks
- blasties
- quadrupeds
- stocks
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- invertebrates