stray 1 of 2

Definition of straynext

stray

2 of 2

verb

as in to trespass
to commit an offense our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stray
Adjective
Besides studying Martian weather and observing a stray interstellar comet last year, Maven helped relay information from NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on the surface. Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 As the players practiced Monday, the fans cheered them on, vying to catch stray balls that headed toward the stands. Victoria Le, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Verb
Rarely did her expression stray from a furrowed brow. Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 The second way this strays from a Daiquiri is in its heavy dose of Angostura Bitters, which adds tons of texture and the flavors of baking spice. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
  • There’s a growing movement to bring back small rituals, like lighting candles, using cloth napkins, pulling out the good china on a random weeknight, and saying a toast before the first bite.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
  • Candles, cloth napkins, the good china on a random Wednesday, a quick toast before the first bite.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The government has no place to trespass on a founding principle of this nation.
    Molly Parker, CBS News, 16 June 2026
  • As if breaking the law would offer a symbolic release from this double bind, the third video documents Liden trespassing into the apartment of an anonymous hoarder.
    Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • Friday, a weakening ridge and an approaching front will allow scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop.
    Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 9 June 2026
  • Share a draft, then ask a focused question so collaborators offer helpful edits rather than scattered opinions.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • On our lunch break, we were given time to wander Paris and observe the city through the lens of our story.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
  • For something more unexpected, wander through Philadelphia's Magic Gardens or seek out the city’s iconic murals, part of one of the largest public art programs in the country.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • The anniversary feels arbitrary to Tran, a math teacher.
    Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • And not simply the tariff policies, but the arbitrary on and off nature of them.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Scheffler, who fell nine shots behind with a pair of bogeys at the start, shot 32 on the back nine by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th for the start of three straight birdies.
    Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • Overall homicides in the United States have fallen for four consecutive years, according to FBI data analyzed by the Washington Post.
    Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

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