wilderness
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for wilderness, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A wild, natural area with no human settlement or cultivation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use wilderness
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
vast wilderness
political wilderness
wilderness area
Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "place of wild animals," ultimately combining "wild" with an old word for "beast."
Full origin of wilderness →Frequently asked questions
What does “wilderness” mean?
The word “wilderness” means a wild, natural area with no human settlement or cultivation. In plain terms, an untouched natural area, or figuratively, a period of being out of power or public favour.
How do you pronounce “wilderness”?
“Wilderness” is pronounced WIHL-duh-nuhs (/ˈwɪldɚnəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “wilderness” in a sentence?
Here is “wilderness” used in a sentence: “They spent two weeks hiking through the Alaskan wilderness.”
What is another word for “wilderness”?
Words with a similar meaning to “wilderness” include bushland, wild and wildland.
What part of speech is “wilderness”?
“Wilderness” is a noun.
Where does the word “wilderness” come from?
The word “wilderness” comes from Old English. From Old English roots meaning "place of wild animals," ultimately combining "wild" with an old word for "beast.".
Is “wilderness” a common word?
“Wilderness” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “wilderness” have?
“Wilderness” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild, natural area with no human settlement or cultivation.
What is the difference between a wilderness and a forest?
A forest is specifically an area covered with trees, while a wilderness is any wild, natural area with no human settlement or cultivation. A wilderness may contain forest, but it can equally be desert, tundra, mountains, or marshland.
What is the difference between wilderness and wasteland?
A wilderness is a wild but often thriving natural area untouched by settlement, whereas a wasteland suggests barren, damaged, or unusable ground. Wasteland carries a more negative sense of emptiness or ruin, while wilderness need not be bleak at all.
