vagabond 1 of 3

noun

ˈva-gə-ˌbänd How to pronounce vagabond (audio)
Definition of vagabondnext
1
as in hobo
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living be wary of the vagabonds in that corner of the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination after they retired, the couple bought an RV and became footloose vagabonds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

vagabond

2 of 3

adjective

as in nomadic
traveling from place to place a vagabond group of entertainers that performed in rough-and-tumble mining towns

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

vagabond

3 of 3

verb

as in to tramp

Related Words

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 vagabond
Noun
Long the purview of vagabond surfers, its coastline is peppered with small towns, like Venao, Guanico, and Cambutal, that are in various stages of being reshaped by bohemian expats. — David Amsden, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Dec. 2025 Johnson weighs in The Dolphins’ only safety with more than three career starts has become the ultimate NFL vagabond, switching teams every year- in some cases, more than once a year — for five years running. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
There are records of albatrosses spending decades living as vagabond singletons in the wrong hemisphere, Lees said. — Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2021 The vagabond fair has set up in a half-dozen different locations over the past 41 years, but it was forced to cancel its plans in recent years because of the problems securing city permits. — Larry Barszewski, Sun-Sentinel.com, 22 Sep. 2017
Verb
Providing different perspectives are a vagabonding Swedish artist and his British wife as well as an Aboriginal wrangler called Billy, whose skill as a cricket batsman has blighted his connection to his family traditions. — Alida Becker, New York Times, 5 May 2023 In 1978, Wenner sold the magazine to Larry Burke, a young man from Chicago who had spent a chunk of his twenties vagabonding around Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vagabond
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vagabond
  1. hobo
  2. nomad
  3. nomadic
  4. tramp
  5. beggar
  6. wanderer
  7. bum
  8. traveler
Noun
  • Per usual with movies like this, spelling out the terror (the roots are in hobo codes and religious legend) becomes, regrettably, a shock absorber, not a facilitator.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
  • Schneider plays David, a reticent young man with the soulful-hobo air of a Beat poet, who makes a living as an events photographer but whose private passion is a secretive lifelong project, inherited from his father, documenting the changing Parisian suburbs.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 18 May 2026
Definition of hobo
Noun
  • Gerardo Olivares’ globe-trotting comedy sees various nomads and tribesmen move heaven and earth to watch the final between 2002 World Cup final between Germany and Brazil.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Who co-living is actually for The stereotype of co-living as a landing pad for laptop-toting nomads no longer holds.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of nomad
Adjective
  • The future goalkeeper had, however, been conditioned by his nomadic family upbringing.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • Later, it was used to describe the sites created by nomadic groups like the Romani people.
    — Natalie Escobar, NPR, 25 June 2026
Definition of nomadic
Verb
  • The pair’s snow boots tramped the nearly week-old Kansas City snow, two candles clutched in their small hands.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Imagine The Goonies with a half dozen adults tramping through the caves.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Definition of tramp
Noun
  • Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2026
  • So disguised as a beggar, Odysseus shows up at his palace, and he is not treated very nicely by the suitors who have camped out in his house.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of beggar
Noun
  • Weston loved to ‘embed himself in different cultures’ Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, described him as an ardent protector of the environment and a wanderer who loved to travel and enjoy nature.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
  • Designed to naturally decay over roughly a decade, these statues impress wanderers who seek them out.
    — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Definition of wanderer
Noun
  • Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Definition of bum
Noun
  • Average transaction values for travel are still high, more than $31,000, but travelers are scrutinizing their receipts and pushing back when rate hikes don't come with better service.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of traveler

Browse Nearby Words

vacuums
vagabond
vagabonded
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Cite this Entry

“Vagabond.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vagabond. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vagabond

Nglish: Translation of vagabond for Spanish Speakers

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