stranger

noun

strang·er | \ ˈstrān-jər

Definition of stranger

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : one who is strange: such as

a(1) : foreigner

(2) : a resident alien

b : one in the house of another as a guest, visitor, or intruder

c : a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted

d : one who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group

e : one not privy or party to an act, contract, or title : one that interferes without right

2 : one ignorant of or unacquainted with someone or something

stranger

adjective

Definition of stranger (Entry 2 of 3)

: of, relating to, or being a stranger : foreign

stranger

verb

strangered; strangering; strangers

Definition of stranger (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

obsolete

: estrange, alienate

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about stranger

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Synonyms & Antonyms for stranger

Synonyms: Noun

foreigner, nonnative, outlander, outsider

Antonyms: Noun

native

Examples of stranger in a Sentence

Noun

Children are taught not to talk to strangers. He is a complete stranger to me. “Excuse me. Do you know where the library is?” “I'm sorry. I'm a stranger here myself.” I'm a stranger to the area.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

To be fair, the Norton Museum of Art isn’t exactly a stranger in these parts—at least not entirely. — Adam Rathe, Town & Country, "Palm Beach's Norton Museum Gets a Renovation by Norman Foster," 5 Feb. 2019 Brianna ends up asking John to marry her as a way of avoiding being proposed to by a total stranger, which—actually, scratch that. — Mehera Bonner, Harper's BAZAAR, "Bree Just Got Engaged to Someone Who Is Not Roger on Outlander," 14 Jan. 2019 Regarding visual media, impactive everyday behaviors include responding to a thread with a GIF or reaction image featuring random everyday strangers, or posting (and/or remixing) the latest meme to comment on the news of the day. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Kevin Hart tweeted himself out of a job hosting the Oscars," 8 Dec. 2018 The handwritten note, written by a stranger, offered words of comfort for the Florence evacuee and included $5 and a Walmart gift card. — Jennifer Earl, Fox News, "Hurricane Florence evacuee in South Carolina finds surprising handwritten note on windshield," 18 Sep. 2018 Brandon Graham and his wife Carlyne often have their meals paid for by strangers in Philadelphia. — Perry A. Farrell, Detroit Free Press, "Brandon Graham is toast of Philadelphia, believes Michigan can make CFP," 11 July 2018 Instead of that worst-case scenario, Luck's wallet was returned to him by a complete stranger. — Andrew Hussey, Indianapolis Star, "Stranger returns Andrew Luck's lost wallet — intact," 6 July 2018 The arms-length ironic detachment with which so many of us (O.K., me) lead our day-to-day land lives simply doesn’t work when surrounded by a thousand fleshy strangers in swimsuits. — Michael Ian Black, New York Times, "Cruises Are So Uncool They Are Cool," 3 July 2018 Which leaves us no other choice but to conclude that Pruitt is a weirdo who actively seeks out mattresses slept on by strangers. — Bess Levin, The Hive, "Why Is Trump’s Most Corrupt Minion Obsessed with Used Mattresses?," 4 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Every pro sports star has signed tons and tons of autographs for fans, but some of them have signed stranger things than others. — Alysha Tsuji, For The Win, "J.J. Watt's weirdest autograph: Signed pregnant woman's belly, then later met her baby," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stranger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.