wilding

adjective

Definition of wildingnext
as in feral
living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans a herd of wilding mustangs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 wilding This experience prioritizes the animals’ wellbeing by focusing on increasing the population, collecting data, and working with experts who have success in re-wilding. — Jack Tydeman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wilding
  1. feral
  2. wild
  3. savage
Adjective
  • The somewhat muddled tale of a wealthy foreigner in Italy, going feral from the pressures of maternity both lost and found, feels longer on rather lofty style than substance for some time.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Especially because Johnny Knoxville is sort of the peak of feral American masculinity.
    — Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 26 July 2026
Definition of feral
Adjective
  • Despite a middling 50-51 record, the Padres are within two games of the National League’s final wild-card spot after beating the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Tuesday.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The entire region is being transformed from beautiful, wild, healthy, relatively intact and super biodiverse habitat to an energy sector sacrifice zone.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of savage

Browse Nearby Words

wildfires
wilding
wildish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wilding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wilding. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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