What does wilder mean?
Wilder is the comparative form of wild, describing something that is more wild than something else. The word can refer literally to animals, land, weather, or natural scenery that is untamed, uncontrolled, or difficult to manage. It also has figurative uses: a person's imagination can grow wilder, an argument can become wilder, or an environment can become wilder as conditions deteriorate. Because it is a regular comparative ending rather than a separate root, wilder often appears where “more wild” would be possible, though it can sound more concise and emphatic. Its connotation depends on context: it may suggest greater freedom and energy, or more danger, disorder, and unpredictability. In literary and poetic writing, wilder can emphasize exaggeration, intensity, or a departure from restraint.
adjectiveComparative of wild. Wilder means more wild, especially more untamed, uncontrolled, fierce, or extreme.
- More wild; especially more untamed, uncontrolled, fierce, or extreme.
"As the storm intensified, the sea grew wilder."
"The horses became wilder as they approached the forest."
"Her imagination grew wilder after reading the novel."
Wilder is the comparative of wild, turning a description into a comparison: one thing may be wild, while another is wilder still.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wilder come from?
Wilder is formed by adding the comparative suffix -er to wild. The English word wild descends from Old English wilde, an adjective meaning untamed, uncontrolled, or uncultivated, and is related to words in several Germanic languages, including German wild and Dutch wild. The comparative form was established in Middle English and follows the ordinary English pattern of forming comparatives with -er.
How wilder is actually used
Wilder is the standard comparative form of wild and can be used independently, without repeating the word wild. It is common in both literal descriptions of animals, weather, and landscapes and figurative descriptions of people, ideas, events, or emotions.