Wild vs. Untamed — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 28, 2024
Wild often describes something naturally occurring without human intervention, whereas untamed specifically refers to something not domesticated or controlled.
Difference Between Wild and Untamed
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Wild often refers to environments or species that exist in their natural state, free from human cultivation or domestic influence. Whereas, untamed is frequently used to describe animals or regions that have resisted domestication or control.
Wild areas are typically characterized by a lack of human structures and modifications, showcasing nature's untouched beauty. On the other hand, untamed often suggests a sense of wildness that includes the potential for domestication or control but presently exists outside of it.
Wild can also imply a natural chaos or disorder intrinsic to the environment or behavior. Whereas, untamed might carry connotations of fierceness or ferocity, especially in the context of animal behavior.
Wild is commonly used in a broader sense, applicable to plants, animals, and geographic areas. On the other hand, untamed is usually more specific, often used when discussing animals or territories that have eluded human control.
In literature and culture, wild often embodies a romantic or idealized view of nature’s purity and freedom. Whereas, untamed can suggest a challenge to human mastery, invoking themes of struggle and resilience.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Existing naturally; not cultivated.
Not domesticated or subdued; uncontrolled.
Typical Use
Broader, can describe nature or behavior.
Often used for animals or specific areas.
Connotation
Natural order and chaos.
Resisting control, possibly fierce.
Cultural Implication
Romanticizes nature’s purity.
Challenges human dominance.
Application
Environmental, behavioral, general.
More specific, often about potential control.
Compare with Definitions
Wild
Not controlled or refined.
His wild emotions made him unpredictable.
Untamed
Not cultivated or civilized.
They journeyed into untamed territories.
Wild
Characterized by wildness or wilderness.
They explored the wild regions of the mountains.
Untamed
Wild and uncontrolled.
His untamed spirit was not suited for a quiet life.
Wild
Existing in a natural state.
The wild forest stretches for miles, untouched by development.
Untamed
Resisting attempts to be controlled.
The untamed landscape presented many challenges.
Wild
Full of wild plants, animals, etc.
The island was wild and uninhabited.
Untamed
Naturally fierce or ferocious.
The untamed wolf roamed the forest freely.
Wild
(of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated
Wild strawberries
A herd of wild goats
Untamed
Not domesticated or controlled.
The untamed horse resisted every attempt at riding.
Wild
(of a place or region) uninhabited, uncultivated, or inhospitable
The wild coastline of Cape Wrath
An expanse of wild moorland
Untamed
Wild, uncontrolled, especially of animals not domesticated or trained to human contact.
The mustang is an untamed horse that roams where it wants, with little interest in humans.
Wild
Lacking discipline or restraint
Wild parties were never her scene
Untamed
In a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated;
Wild geese
Edible wild plants
Wild
Not based on sound reasoning or probability
A wild guess
Wild rumours were circulating
Performing in Hollywood was beyond my wildest dreams
Who, even in their wildest dreams, could have anticipated such a victory?
Wild
(of a playing card) deemed to have any value, suit, colour, or other property in a game at the discretion of the player holding it.
Wild
A natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region
Kiwis are virtually extinct in the wild
Wild
Treat (a person or animal) harshly, so that they become untrusting or nervous
Let your pigeon fly for a while: we don't want to wild him
Wild
Occurring, growing, or living in a natural state; not domesticated, cultivated, or tamed
Wild geese.
Edible wild plants.
Wild
Not inhabited or farmed
Remote, wild country.
Wild
Uncivilized or barbarous.
Wild
Lacking supervision or restraint
Wild children living in the street.
Wild
Disorderly; unruly
A wild scene in the school cafeteria.
Wild
Characterized by a lack of moral restraint; dissolute or licentious
Recalled his wild youth with remorse.
Wild
Lacking regular order or arrangement; disarranged
Wild locks of long hair.
Wild
Full of, marked by, or suggestive of strong, uncontrolled emotion
Wild with jealousy.
A wild look in his eye.
A wild rage.
Wild
Extravagant; fantastic
A wild idea.
Wild
Furiously disturbed or turbulent; stormy
Wild weather.
Wild
Risky; imprudent
Wild financial schemes.
Wild
Impatiently eager
Wild to get away for the weekend.
Wild
(Informal) Highly enthusiastic
Just wild about the new music.
Wild
Based on little or no evidence or probability; unfounded
Wild accusations.
A wild guess.
Wild
Deviating greatly from an intended course; erratic
A wild bullet.
Wild
(Games) Having an equivalence or value determined by the cardholder's choice
Playing poker with deuces wild.
Wild
In a wild manner
Growing wild.
Roaming wild.
Wild
A natural or undomesticated state
Returned the zoo animals to the wild.
Plants that grow abundantly in the wild.
Wild
Often wilds A region that is mostly uninhabited or uncultivated
The wilds of the northern steppes.
Wild
To go about in a group threatening, robbing, or attacking others.
Wild
; not domesticated; specifically, in an unbroken line of undomesticated animals (as opposed to feral, referring to undomesticated animals whose ancestors were domesticated).
Przewalski's horses are the only remaining wild horses.
Wild
From or relating to wild creatures.
Wild honey
Wild
Unrestrained or uninhibited.
I was filled with wild rage when I discovered the infidelity, and punched a hole in the wall.
Wild
, unruly, or licentious.
The fraternity was infamous for its wild parties, which frequently resulted in police involvement.
Wild
(electrical engineering) Of unregulated and varying frequency.
The aircraft's navigational equipment should not be powered from the wild AC bus except in an emergency, as its computers can be damaged by variations in electrical frequency.
Wild
Visibly and overtly anxious; frantic.
Her mother was wild with fear when she didn't return home after the party.
Wild
; very angry.
Wild
, tangled, or untidy.
After a week on the trail without a mirror, my hair was wild and dirty.
Wild
Very inaccurate; far off the mark.
The novice archer fired a wild shot and hit her opponent's target.
Wild
To the wind and sea; unsheltered.
A wild roadstead
Wild
To steer.
Wild
Not capable of being represented as a finite closed polygonal chain.
Wild
(slang) Amazing, awesome, unbelievable.
Did you hear? Pat won the lottery! — Wow, that's wild!
Wild
Able to stand in for others, e.g. a card in games, or a text character in computer pattern matching.
In this card game, aces are wild: they can take the place of any other card.
Wild
Of an audio recording: intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded separately.
A wild track; wild sound
Wild
Inaccurately; not on target.
The javelin flew wild and struck a spectator, to the horror of all observing.
Wild
(of an audio recording) Intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded separately.
Let's record it wild.
Wild
The undomesticated state of a wild animal.
After mending the lion's leg, we returned him to the wild.
Wild
A wilderness.
Wild
To commit random acts of assault, robbery, and rape in an urban setting, especially as a gang.
Wild
(In the form wilding or wildin') To act in a strange or unexpected way.
Wild
Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild boar; a wild ox; a wild cat.
Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.
Wild
Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated; brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild strawberry, wild honey.
The woods and desert caves,With wild thyme and gadding vine o'ergrown.
Wild
Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land.
Wild
Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious; rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America.
Wild
Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary; visionary; crazy.
What are theseSo withered and so wild in their attire ?
With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makesWild work in heaven.
The wild winds howl.
Search then the ruling passion, there, aloneThe wild are constant, and the cunning known.
Wild
Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild roadstead.
Wild
Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or ewilderment; as, a wild look.
Wild
Hard to steer; - said of a vessel.
Wild
An uninhabited and uncultivated tract or region; a forest or desert; a wilderness; a waste; as, the wilds of America; the wilds of Africa.
Then Libya first, of all her moisture drained,Became a barren waste, a wild of sand.
Wild
Wildly; as, to talk wild.
Wild
A wild primitive state untouched by civilization;
He lived in the wild
Wild
A wild and uninhabited area
Wild
Marked by extreme lack of restraint or control;
Wild ideas
Wild talk
Wild originality
Wild parties
Wild
In a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated;
Wild geese
Edible wild plants
Wild
In a state of extreme emotion;
Wild with anger
Wild with grief
Wild
Deviating widely from an intended course;
A wild bullet
A wild pitch
Wild
(of colors or sounds) intensely vivid or loud;
A violent clash of colors
Her dress was a violent red
A violent noise
Wild colors
Wild shouts
Wild
Not subjected to control or restraint;
A piano played with a wild exuberance
Wild
Talking or behaving irrationally;
A raving lunatic
Wild
Produced without being planted or without human labor;
Wild strawberries
Wild
Located in a dismal or remote area; desolate;
A desert island
A godforsaken wilderness crossroads
A wild stretch of land
Waste places
Wild
Without civilizing influences;
Barbarian invaders
Barbaric practices
A savage people
Fighting is crude and uncivilized especially if the weapons are efficient
Wild tribes
Wild
(of the elements) as if showing violent anger;
Angry clouds on the horizon
Furious winds
The raging sea
Wild
In an uncontrolled and rampant manner;
Weeds grew rampantly around here
Common Curiosities
How is "untamed" used to describe animals?
It describes animals that have not been domesticated or controlled.
Can "wild" be used to describe human behavior?
Yes, it can describe behavior that is uncontrolled or unrestrained.
Can something be both wild and untamed?
Yes, something can be both naturally wild and actively resisting taming or control.
What does "untamed" suggest about a region?
It suggests that the region is in a natural state and resists human control.
How do "wild" and "untamed" differ in their typical use?
"Wild" is used more broadly, while "untamed" often focuses on a specific aspect of being wild or uncontrolled.
What does "wild" imply about an environment?
It implies naturalness and lack of human alteration.
Is "untamed" only applicable to living things?
No, it can also describe landscapes or natural phenomena.
Does "wild" have positive or negative connotations?
It can have both, depending on context, often seen positively in natural settings.
What kind of challenges does an "untamed" animal present?
Challenges related to domestication, control, and safety.
Are there cultural differences in the perception of "wild" and "untamed"?
Yes, perceptions can vary with cultural attitudes towards nature and control.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
