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View synonyms for feral

feral

1

[ feer-uhl, fer- ]

adjective

  1. existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild.
  2. having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication:

    a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

  3. of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.


feral

2

[ feer-uhl, fer- ]

adjective

  1. causing death; fatal.
  2. funereal; gloomy.

feral

1

/ ˈfɛr-; ˈfɪərəl /

adjective

  1. astrology associated with death
  2. gloomy; funereal
“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


feral

2

/ ˈfɛr-; ˈfɪərəl /

adjective

  1. Alsoferine (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated
  2. Alsoferine savage; brutal
  3. derogatory.
    (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance
“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

noun

  1. derogatory.
    a person who displays such tendencies and appearance
  2. slang.
    disgusting
  3. slang.
    excellent
“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

feral

/ fîrəl,fĕr- /

  1. Existing in a wild or untamed state, either naturally or having returned to such a state from domestication.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of feral1

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis “bestial, wild,” from Latin fer(a) “wild beast” + -ālis -al 1

Origin of feral2

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin fērālis “of the dead, funerary, fatal”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of feral1

C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry

Origin of feral2

C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis , from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage
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Example Sentences

Now in her 70s, Sharon Patrick calls people “dear” and “hon,” and enjoys talking about the feral cats she feeds on the South Side.

She trained horses on the side, landing a job trapping feral horses in Hawaii—and that led her to vet school.

The more feral horses from New Zealand play, for example, the better they survive their first year.

The first is feral cowardice — captured in the wild-eyed, hunted expression of Republican senators asked to comment on the president’s latest insane or destructive tweet.

It may be an exercise in delusion, but it’s still heartening to bask in these letters, to take this feral love for what it was at a freeze-frame moment in time.

Rather, she shows us: that spandex clad ass twerking in the jungle, surrounded by a feral pack of similarly well fed asses?

At the same time, playing an animal does require more feral-ness, so to speak.

The “Aduba double-take,” a phenomenon that fans of the show often fall victim to, is truly a testament to her feral performance.

But then, with their contorted physiques and feral grimaces they speak directly to the Basquiats.

Devastated, she climbed with feral intensity, hoping the baby might spontaneously abort.

How again does it explain reversion to long-lost characters and the resumption of feral characteristics?

In a feral state he would doubtless have left the herd and become a solitary wanderer.

An old hunter then mounted a tame elephant, went up to the feral one, seized his ear and ordered him to lie down.

Furthermore, they are all comparatively large, and if they ever become feral in England, it will not be for many years to come.

The bright feral light of the super-mongoose's eyes seemed to lance at Sowles, like an infra-red flash.

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ferae naturaeferal child