wilder

verb

wil·​der ˈwil-dər 

wildered; wildering; wilders

transitive verb

1

archaic : to lead astray

2

archaic : bewilder, perplex

intransitive verb

archaic : to move at random : wander

wilderment

ˈwil-dər-mənt 

noun archaic

Examples of wilder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

History itself, of course, is different from what any of these narratives suppose, and wilder. —Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

But the public reaction has been even wilder, even more lawless. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024

Starring Paul Mescal as Lucius, a young prisoner turned gladiator, this sequel goes bigger and wilder than its predecessor, including monkeys, rhinos and even sharks within its grand action sequences. —Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

But the memoir is also weirder and wilder than this description implies. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably irregular from wilderness

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Biographical Definition

Wilder 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Wil·​der ˈwī(-ə)l-dər 

Billy 1906–2002 born Samuel Wilder American (Polish-born) filmmaker

Wilder

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Laura Ingalls 1867–1957 née Laura Ingalls American author

Wilder

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Thornton Niven 1897–1975 American author