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feral

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective feral differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of feral are bestial, brutal, and brutish. While all these words mean "characteristic of an animal in nature, action, or instinct," feral suggests the savagery or ferocity of wild animals.

the struggle to survive unleashed their feral impulses

In what contexts can bestial take the place of feral?

While the synonyms bestial and feral are close in meaning, bestial suggests a state of degradation unworthy of humans and fit only for beasts.

bestial depravity

When would brutal be a good substitute for feral?

Although the words brutal and feral have much in common, brutal applies to people, their acts, or their words and suggests a lack of intelligence, feeling, or humanity.

a senseless and brutal war

When is brutish a more appropriate choice than feral?

The meanings of brutish and feral largely overlap; however, brutish stresses likeness to an animal in low intelligence, in base appetites, and in behavior based on instinct.

brutish stupidity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of feral
Noun
Domestic cat breeds that roam the streets without a home or owner are considered feral cats. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025 Work also needs to be done to remove invasive species—like feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, for example. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025 Abandonment and Free-Roaming Cats Most feral cats descend from those abandoned outdoors. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025 Axel cocked his head with wild eyes and a feral grin. Jordan Thomas may 28, Literary Hub, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for feral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feral
Adjective
  • But when 5,000 Trevally fight back, the hunters become the hunted in one of the ocean’s wildest showdowns.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • Robert reached with one out in the fifth, legging out the infield single and taking second on a wild throw.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • The young protesters were again met with the brute force of the Kenyan police.
    Troy Onyango, Time, 24 July 2025
  • Few contemporary artists capture the brute force and fragility of the human body like Jenny Saville.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Several of the pieces sport bold patterns, including three conversational prints from illustrator Brandon Campbell — desert, coastal and pines — that feature graphics of the nature and animals.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 23 July 2025
  • Also visible will be metal rings attached to the walls, thought to have been used to tether animals brought down into the cave complex.
    Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Southerners quickly learn how to survive brutal summer temperatures.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
  • Mortensen not only survived the brutal massacre, but is also the only eyewitness to have seen Kohberger at the scene of the crime.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Most of the remaining beasties now live on remote islands near the equator, and most humans would conveniently like to forget them.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 June 2025
  • That hybrid classification extends to recent hits such as Minecraft and Sonic the Hedgehog, which combine live actors with CGI beasties.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2022
  • As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.
    Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022
Noun
  • Then the parasite must travel to the critter's salivary glands, where it's poised to be injected into the mosquito's next victim via a bite.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 July 2025
  • Users were tasked with taking care of their virtual pet by pressing buttons that simulate feeding, disciplining and playing with the critter on screen.
    Michelle Chapman, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • But then appeared on the road a living creature whose intent my driver could not understand: a cow.
    Shekar Natarajan, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The series, which has yet to receive a title, will see Newfoundland play Newfoundland as the rugged and picturesque Atlantic ocean provides the backdrop for the hunt for a sea creature.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Feral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feral. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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