Feral

usgb/ˈferəl/
adjective

Wild and not under human control.

The feral cats of the neighborhood are causing a lot of problems.
Visual representation of "feral" - Wild and not under human control

Often appears as...

  • feral cats
  • feral animals

Usage tips

Disapproving

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "feral"
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Negative Implications

Often suggests problems or nuisances caused by animals living in the wild.

Illustration for Negative Implications
Local residents complained about the feral pigeons invading their balconies.
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Human Influence

Usually applied to animals that were domesticated but reverted to the wild.

Illustration for Human Influence
Some feral dogs in the city may have once had owners.
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Not Always Negative

Can describe animals simply living naturally without human interference.

Illustration for Not Always Negative
The feral horses on the island live peacefully away from people.
Visual representation of the word "Feral"

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