stray

³stray

adj

Definition of STRAY

1

: having strayed or escaped from a proper or intended place <a stray dog> <hit by a stray bullet> <fixed a few stray hairs>

2

: occurring at random or sporadically <a few stray thoughts>

3

: not serving any useful purpose : unwanted <stray light>

Examples of STRAY

1. <stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists>

First Known Use of STRAY

1589

Related to STRAY

Synonyms: aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, scattered, slapdash, random

Antonyms: methodical (also methodic), nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

Related Words: accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated; scattershot, shotgun; irregular, odd, sporadic, spot; directionless, objectless, purposeless; indiscriminate, unsystematic; undirected; disorderly, disorganized; undiscriminating, unselective

Near Antonyms: established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady; constant, continuous, even; arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned; aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful (or wilful)

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