Wild, as an animal

Published by Naitik Mehta · March 26, 2026

Stuck on the clue Wild, as an animal from the New York Times Mini for March 26, 2026? We have the correct 5-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?

Clue

Wild, as an animal (5)

Answer

The answer to Wild, as an animal is Feral (5 letters).

Why does Feral fit this clue?

This is a direct definition clue where 'Wild, as an animal' points to FERAL, meaning existing in a wild or untamed state. Feral describes animals that were once domesticated but have returned to living in the wild, or their descendants who have never been tamed. The qualifier 'as an animal' specifies the zoological sense of wild, distinguishing FERAL from other meanings of 'wild' like uncontrolled behavior or untamed landscapes. Common examples include feral cats, pigs, and horses that live independently of human care.

What does Wild, as an animal mean?

We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.

wild

adjective

•living in a natural state; not domesticated or tamed

•uncontrolled or unrestrained in behavior

Where did this clue appear?

This clue appeared as 7-across in the New York Times Mini on March 26, 2026, by Joel Fagliano. See all answers for this puzzle.

NYT Mini — Mar 26, 2026

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What does Feral mean?

noun

•A domesticated animal that has returned to the wild; an animal, particularly a domesticated animal, living independently of humans.

•A contemptible young person, a lout, a person who behaves wildly.

adjective

•Wild, untamed, especially of domesticated animals having returned to the wild.

•(of a person) Contemptible, unruly, misbehaved.

Origin of the word Feral

•origin: Latin 'ferus' meaning wild, untamed

•period: 17th century

The word entered English through French 'féral' and originally described animals that had returned to a wild state after being domesticated, distinguishing them from animals that were always wild.

How to use Feral in a sentence

Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Feral.

•“The once-domesticated cats had become feral after living in the abandoned warehouse for years.”

•“A pack of feral dogs roamed the outskirts of the village, scavenging for food.”

•“The feral pig population has grown rapidly since escaping from local farms decades ago.”

What are other crossword clues for Feral?

“Untamed” (5)

“Far from house-trained” (5)

Learn about related clues

All clues from the New York Times Mini, Mar 26, 2026 crossword

The New York Times Mini for March 26, 2026 was published by Joel Fagliano and has 10 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.

Across

1ADegrees for boardroom execs (4)5A"___ want for Christmas ..." (4)6AWhat Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech (5)7AWild, as an animal (5)8ASphere (3)

Down

1DWord after "match" or "mischief" (5)2DBit of writing on a book jacket (5)3DPenne ___ vodka (4)4DWindow ledge (4)6DBay Area airport, for short (3)

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Frequently asked questions about Wild, as an animal

What is the answer to Wild, as an animal?: The answer is Feral (5 letters).
Where did this clue appear?: This clue was last seen in the New York Times Mini on March 26, 2026.
How many letters does the answer to Wild, as an animal have?: The answer has 5 letters: Feral.

Author

Naitik Mehta

Co-founder

Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.