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View synonyms for

wild

[ wahyld ]

adjective

wilder, wildest.
  1. living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated:

    a wild animal;

    wild geese.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  2. growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey:

    wild cherries.

  3. uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste:

    wild country.

  4. uncivilized or barbarous:

    wild tribes.

    Synonyms: ,

  5. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious:

    wild strife;

    wild storms.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  6. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance:

    wild cries;

    a wild look.

    Synonyms:

  7. frantic or distracted; crazy:

    to drive someone wild.

    Synonyms:

  8. violently or uncontrollably affected:

    wild with rage;

    wild with pain.

  9. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless:

    a gang of wild boys.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  10. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled:

    wild enthusiasm.

    Synonyms:

  11. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence:

    He repented his wild youth.

  12. unrestrained by reason or prudence:

    wild schemes.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  13. amazing or incredible:

    Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?

    Synonyms: , , ,

  14. disorderly or disheveled:

    wild hair.

    Synonyms:

  15. wide of the mark:

    He scored on a wild throw.

  16. Informal. intensely eager or enthusiastic:

    wild to get started;

    wild about the new styles.

  17. Cards. (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.
  18. Metallurgy. (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.


adverb

  1. in a wild manner; wildly.

noun

  1. Often wilds. an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert:

    a cabin in the wild;

    a safari to the wilds of Africa.

verb (used with object)

wilded, wilding.
  1. to travel around as a group, attacking or assaulting (people) in a random and violent way:

    The man was wilded and left for dead.

wild

1

/ ɲɪ /

adjective

  1. (of animals) living independently of man; not domesticated or tame
  2. (of plants) growing in a natural state; not cultivated
  3. uninhabited or uncultivated; desolate

    a wild stretch of land

  4. living in a savage or uncivilized way

    wild tribes

  5. lacking restraint

    wild merriment

  6. of great violence or intensity

    a wild storm

  7. disorderly or chaotic

    wild thoughts

    wild talk

  8. dishevelled; untidy

    wild hair

  9. in a state of extreme emotional intensity

    wild with anger

  10. reckless

    wild speculations

  11. not calculated; random

    a wild guess

  12. unconventional; fantastic; crazy

    wild friends

  13. informal.
    postpositivefoll byabout intensely enthusiastic or excited
  14. (of a card, such as a joker or deuce in some games) able to be given any value the holder pleases

    jacks are wild

  15. wild and woolly
    1. rough; untamed; barbarous
    2. (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out
“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

adverb

  1. in a wild manner
  2. run wild
    1. to grow without cultivation or care
    2. to behave without restraint
“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. often plural a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region
  2. the wild
    1. a free natural state of living
    2. the wilderness
“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

Wild

2

/ ɲɪ /

noun

  1. WildJonathan?16821725MBritishCRIME AND POLICING: criminal Jonathan. ?1682–1725, British criminal, who organized a network of thieves, highwaymen, etc, while also working as an informer: said to have sent over a hundred men to the gallows before being hanged himself
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈɾ徱, adjective
  • ˈɾ, adverb
  • ˈɾԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ɾl adverb
  • ɾn noun
  • 󲹱-ɾ adjective
  • half-ɾl adverb
  • half-ɾn noun
  • v·ɾ adjective
  • over·ɾl adverb
  • over·ɾn noun
  • i·ɾ adjective
  • semi·ɾl adverb
  • semi·ɾn noun
  • ܲ·ɾ adjective
  • un·ɾl adverb
  • un·ɾn noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wild1

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wild1

Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheis
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout. Compare blowout ( def 4 ).
  2. in the wild,
    1. in a natural state or in the wilderness.
    2. in the real world; in real life:

      language learning in the classroom and in the wild.

  3. run wild,
    1. to grow unchecked:

      The rambler roses are running wild.

    2. to show lack of restraint or control:

      Those children are allowed to run wild.

More idioms and phrases containing wild

  • go hog wild
  • go wilding
  • run amok (wild)
  • sow one's wild oats
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Things got really wild in the third period, with the Oilers scoring four goals in less than seven minutes to put the game away.

From

The wild, flat landscapes dotted with gorse and heather are known for their wildlife, including rare species like the sand lizard, woodlark and silver-studded blue butterfly.

From

“As a person who understands just how rewarding it is to live out your wildest dreams, it’s equally rewarding for me to help others reach theirs.”

From

After the Kings’ wild 6-5 win that night, the team’s X account posted a group of photos from the game with the caption, “The power of the harmonicas.”

From

The British number three used his experience to see out victory after Landaluce produced a wild game at 4-4 in the deciding set.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Wilcoxon testwild-and-woolly