wilder

¹

[ wil-der ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to lose one's way.
2. to bewilder.

verb (used without object)

1. to lose one's way.
2. to be bewildered.

wilder

²

[ wahyl-der ]

adjective

1. comparative of wild.

Wilder

³

[ wahyl-der ]

noun

1. Billy Samuel Wilder, 1906–2002, U.S. film director, producer, and writer; born in Austria.
2. Laura In·galls [ing, -g, uh, lz], 1867–1957, U.S. writer of children's books.
3. Thorn·ton (Niv·en) [thawrn, -tn , niv, -, uh, n], 1897–1975, U.S. novelist and playwright.

wilder

¹

/ ˈwɪldə /

verb

1. to lead or be led astray
2. to bewilder or become bewildered

Wilder

²

/ ˈwaɪldə /

noun

1. WilderBilly19062002MUSAustrianFILMS AND TV: directorFILMS AND TV: writer Billy, real name Samuel Wilder. 1906–2002, US film director and screenwriter, born in Austria. His films include Double Indemnity (1944), The Lost Weekend (1945), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Some Like it Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), and Buddy Buddy (1981)
2. WilderThornton18971975MUSWRITING: novelistTHEATRE: dramatist Thornton. 1897–1975 US novelist and dramatist. His works include the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) and the play The Skin of Our Teeth (1942)

Derived Forms

• ˈwilderment, noun

Other Words From

• wilder·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilder¹

First recorded in 1605–15; perhaps extracted from wilderness; intransitive use probably by association with wander

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilder¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

By midday on May 26, more than 160 AP employees had signed an open letter denouncing Wilder’s termination and requesting management provide clarity on how she violated AP’s social media policy.

From Digiday

Wilder was not told which of her social media posts had violated company policy, she said, just that “I had showed clear bias.”

From Washington Post

Wilder believes the Associated Press acted in response to those high-profile pieces of criticism.

From Washington Post

So Wilder should be able to enjoy this thing for at least a year before he grows out of it.

From Outside Online

So, naturally, I gave my best friend’s son, Wilder, his first Hog for his second birthday.

From Outside Online

Was the blackface scene with Gene Wilder in Silver Streak an important step in how American audiences view minstrelsy?

From The Daily Beast

Douglas Wilder became the first African American governor of any state since Reconstruction in Virginia in 1990.

From The Daily Beast

Some of the wilder criticisms of me notwithstanding, my column Monday made two basic points.

From The Daily Beast

In Young Frankenstein, there is a scene in which Gene Wilder throws a dart and misses the target.

From The Daily Beast

Zero Mostel gets Gene Wilder, Frank Langella gets Ron Moody, Gene Wilder gets Cleavon Little.

From The Daily Beast

It was difficult to describe—a little sterner, a little wilder, a faint emphasis of the barbaric peering through it.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be that wilder and stronger birds tear him in pieces; that the frost and rain may chill his body, unused to exposure.

From Project Gutenberg

Wilder slowly drew himself up and looked inquiringly at Tootles.

From Project Gutenberg

Wilder flung a slipper across the room that missed Tootles head and clattered among the paint-brushes.

From Project Gutenberg

Wilder drew forth half a bottle of milk, an open tin of potted ham and several portions of bread.

From Project Gutenberg