Wilderness vs. Wild — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 12, 2024
Wilderness refers to large, undisturbed natural areas, often protected by law; wild describes untamed, uncontrolled natural states or behaviors.
Difference Between Wilderness and Wild
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Wilderness areas are regions that remain largely untouched by human development, preserving their natural conditions. In contrast, wild can refer to any natural state or entity that is uncontrolled or uncultivated, not necessarily large or protected.
While wilderness specifically denotes expansive spaces like forests, parks, or reserves, wild is more broadly applied to animals, plants, or even weather, highlighting its more general usage.
Regulations often protect wilderness areas to maintain their ecological integrity, whereas wild elements can be found in both rural and urban settings, without specific legal protections.
The concept of wilderness is often associated with conservation efforts and outdoor recreation. On the other hand, wild is used to describe the inherent nature of an animal or place, suggesting a lack of domestication or human influence.
People seek wilderness for experiences and adventures that involve minimal human impact, while encountering something wild often implies a spontaneous or unexpected interaction with nature.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A large natural area unmodified by human activity.
Anything that is untamed, uncontrolled.
Scope
Specific to large areas like forests, reserves.
Broad, applies to animals, plants, behaviors.
Protection
Often legally protected to preserve natural conditions.
No specific legal protection; natural state itself.
Association
Linked with conservation and outdoor recreation.
Implies spontaneity and lack of domestication.
Human Interaction
Minimal to maintain natural conditions.
Can occur anywhere, often without human intent.
Compare with Definitions
Wilderness
A setting for adventure and exploration.
They spent weeks trekking through the wilderness.
Wild
Pertaining to uncontrolled or untamed behavior.
The storm was wild and unpredictable.
Wilderness
Areas designated for conservation.
The wilderness designation helps protect habitats for various species.
Wild
Characterizing something fierce or unrestrained.
The crowd went wild after the last-minute goal.
Wilderness
Largely uninhabited and undeveloped lands.
Aerial surveys are required to map remote wilderness regions.
Wild
Relating to living or growing in natural conditions and not cultivated.
The valley was full of wild flowers.
Wilderness
A region remaining in its natural state.
The wilderness area we visited was free from roads and buildings.
Wild
(of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated
Wild strawberries
A herd of wild goats
Wilderness
Protected natural parks or reserves.
Yellowstone is a prime example of wilderness protected for public enjoyment.
Wild
(of a place or region) uninhabited, uncultivated, or inhospitable
The wild coastline of Cape Wrath
An expanse of wild moorland
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural), are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally referred to terrestrial environments, though growing attention is being placed on marine wilderness.
Wild
Lacking discipline or restraint
Wild parties were never her scene
Wilderness
A large tract of land that has not been significantly affected by human activities.
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?
Wilderness
A tract of land officially protected from development and other high-impact human activities.
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.
Wilderness
A barren or desolate area; a wasteland.
Wild
A natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region
Kiwis are virtually extinct in the wild
Wilderness
Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion
A wilderness of unknown city streets.
A wilderness of voices.
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
Wilderness
A state of neglect, powerlessness, or disfavor
"The failure of the Clinton health plan in 1994 opened the door to the Republicans' capture of Congress after forty years in the wilderness" (Jacob S. Hacker).
Wild
Occurring, growing, or living in a natural state; not domesticated, cultivated, or tamed
Wild geese.
Edible wild plants.
Wilderness
(uncountable) Uncultivated and unsettled land in its natural state inhabited by wild animals and with vegetation growing wild; (countable) a tract of such land; a waste or wild.
Wild
Not inhabited or farmed
Remote, wild country.
Wilderness
(by extension)
Wild
Uncivilized or barbarous.
Wilderness
(countable) A place other than land (for example, the air or sea) that is uncared for, and therefore devoted to disorder or wildness.
Wild
Lacking supervision or restraint
Wild children living in the street.
Wilderness
An ornamental part of a garden or park cultivated with trees and often a maze to evoke a natural wilderness.
Wild
Disorderly; unruly
A wild scene in the school cafeteria.
Wilderness
Unrefinedness; wildness.
Wild
Characterized by a lack of moral restraint; dissolute or licentious
Recalled his wild youth with remorse.
Wilderness
Chiefly followed by of: a bewildering flock or throng; a large, often jumbled, collection of things.
Wild
Lacking regular order or arrangement; disarranged
Wild locks of long hair.
Wilderness
A place or situation that is bewildering and in which one may get lost.
Wild
Full of, marked by, or suggestive of strong, uncontrolled emotion
Wild with jealousy.
A wild look in his eye.
A wild rage.
Wilderness
Often preceded by in the: a situation of disfavour or lack of recognition; of a politician, political party, etc.: a situation of being out of office.
Wild
Extravagant; fantastic
A wild idea.
Wilderness
A tract of land, or a region, uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings, whether a forest or a wide, barren plain; a wild; a waste; a desert; a pathless waste of any kind.
The wat'ry wilderness yields no supply.
Wild
Furiously disturbed or turbulent; stormy
Wild weather.
Wilderness
A disorderly or neglected place.
Wild
Risky; imprudent
Wild financial schemes.
Wilderness
Quality or state of being wild; wildness.
These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands.Will keep from wilderness with ease.
Wild
Impatiently eager
Wild to get away for the weekend.
Wilderness
A wild and uninhabited area
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
Wild
In a wild or undomesticated manner;
Growing wild
Roaming wild
Wild
Describes animals or plants living in natural conditions without human control.
Observing wild animals in their natural habitat is fascinating.
Wild
Used to describe something in its natural, unmodified state.
They hiked through wild terrain untouched by trails.
Common Curiosities
What is wilderness?
Wilderness refers to large, untouched natural areas often protected to preserve their ecological integrity.
How is wild different from wilderness?
Wild is a broader term describing anything untamed or uncontrolled, not limited to large natural areas.
Why are wilderness areas protected?
Wilderness areas are protected to conserve biodiversity and maintain natural ecosystems.
Is all wilderness publicly accessible?
Not all wilderness areas are accessible to the public; some are preserved specifically for wildlife or ecological research.
Can humans live in the wilderness?
While humans can visit, living permanently in designated wilderness areas is often restricted to maintain their natural state.
Are all wild animals dangerous?
Not all wild animals are dangerous; many avoid humans, and danger often depends on the species and situation.
Can a city have wild areas?
Yes, cities can have wild areas such as undeveloped plots or abandoned sites where nature takes over.
What are examples of wild behavior?
Wild behavior can be seen in animals when they act instinctively and without human influence.
How do humans impact the wilderness?
Human activities, even when minimal, can impact wilderness through paths, pollution, and wildlife disturbances.
What makes a storm wild?
A storm is described as wild if it is particularly violent or unpredictable.
Are national parks considered wilderness?
Many national parks include wilderness areas but also may have developed facilities and roads.
How does wilderness benefit the environment?
Wilderness areas help preserve biodiversity, serve as carbon sinks, and maintain ecological balances.
Is it illegal to modify wilderness areas?
In many cases, legal protections restrict modifications to preserve wilderness areas' natural conditions.
Can plants be wild?
Yes, plants that grow naturally without cultivation are considered wild.
What types of activities are common in the wilderness?
Hiking, camping, and wildlife observation are common activities in wilderness areas.
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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.
