Wild fear hurt student (5)
I believe the answer is:
feral
'wild' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'fear hurt student' is the wordplay.
'hurt' indicates anagramming the letters.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'fear' anagrammed gives 'fera'.
'fera'+'l'='FERAL'
(Other definitions for feral that I've seen before include "Like a wild animal" , "Fierce, having reverted to wild state" , "Wild but formerly tame" , "Flare up in wild state" , "Wild and menacing" .)