# Wilder

/ˈwaɪɫdɝ/ (US) · /wˈaɪldɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wilder
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. more untamed

adjective · CEFR A2

more natural, untamed, or exciting than something else.

For teachers: the comparative form of 'wild', indicating a greater degree of lack of control, domestication, or restraint.

- The scenery became wilder as we drove further into the mountains.
- The coastal landscape grew significantly wilder as the expedition moved north, with jagged cliffs replacing the gentle dunes of the southern shore.

### 2. to confuse

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to make someone feel very confused or lost.

For teachers: to bewilder or perplex; to cause someone to lose their way or become mentally confused.

- The strange lights in the forest seemed to wilder the lonely traveller.
- The complex maze of corridors was designed to wilder any intruder who dared enter the inner sanctum without a guide.

Usage: This verb is almost exclusively found in older literature and is the root of the modern word 'bewilder'.

## Examples

- The thick fog began to wilder the hikers.
- Without a compass, the dense and shifting sands of the desert can easily wilder even the most experienced travelers.
- The poet describes how the complexities of modern life can wilder the soul, leaving one searching for a simpler, more grounded existence amidst the chaos.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.