as in plodding
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as in strolling
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure
the couple enjoys ambling along the many footpaths that meander through the park
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambling
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Though there was a thrilling edge to their early work—the lightning-in-a-bottle sample drill of Polo Perks and Moh Baretta, that spine-tingling Pasto Flocco run—it’s been dulled a bit in favor of ambling minimalism.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Forget cows ambling in biodiverse pastures.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Seattle is an outdoor lover’s paradise packed with things to do in all four seasons, from summer hiking and fall leaf-peeping to winter snow sports and ambling around downtown in the spring, when the rain starts to ease up and summer crowds haven't yet arrived.
—Scott Bay, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
Taken 34 more throw-ins than anyone in the division, but his game is about so much more than that particular set piece; has produced the most dribbles by a defender, is great on defensive duels and loves randomly ambling forward at all angles to cause carnage in the opposition third.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
And despite its ambling, almost shapeless nature, Who by Fire is never boring, because Lesage and his actors fill every scene with surprise and suspense.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Walking past the kitchen, which always smelled of spice and good food, Yazid thought of his ambling bulk and felt inadequate and experienced the loneliness that sometimes plagued him in the night.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
She was photographed ambling along Firehole River, frolicking with her young ones in the meadow in front of Old Faithful Lodge, and even seeming to pose alongside the famous geyser.
—JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
Few wallpapers can nurture a childhood love of Fauvism with so little effort, but this ambling and pastoral mural can raise your little one to appreciate the finer things in life.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Though there was a thrilling edge to their early work—the lightning-in-a-bottle sample drill of Polo Perks and Moh Baretta, that spine-tingling Pasto Flocco run—it’s been dulled a bit in favor of ambling minimalism.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Forget cows ambling in biodiverse pastures.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Seattle is an outdoor lover’s paradise packed with things to do in all four seasons, from summer hiking and fall leaf-peeping to winter snow sports and ambling around downtown in the spring, when the rain starts to ease up and summer crowds haven't yet arrived.
—Scott Bay, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
Taken 34 more throw-ins than anyone in the division, but his game is about so much more than that particular set piece; has produced the most dribbles by a defender, is great on defensive duels and loves randomly ambling forward at all angles to cause carnage in the opposition third.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
And despite its ambling, almost shapeless nature, Who by Fire is never boring, because Lesage and his actors fill every scene with surprise and suspense.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Walking past the kitchen, which always smelled of spice and good food, Yazid thought of his ambling bulk and felt inadequate and experienced the loneliness that sometimes plagued him in the night.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
She was photographed ambling along Firehole River, frolicking with her young ones in the meadow in front of Old Faithful Lodge, and even seeming to pose alongside the famous geyser.
—JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambling
Adjective
-
Neither is known for having much of an off-the-dribble game that could hurt the plodding Porzingis or Horford.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
His jogging gait is a bit plodding.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Just minutes from downtown, Andreas Canyon feels like strolling through an ancient desert oasis.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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The high season was over so the scene was fairly quiet, with clusters of tourists who appeared to be from Eastern Europe, and young Albanian couples strolling the beach.—
Ada Calhoun,
Travel + Leisure,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In other words, the object that reshaped the moon may have been a leftover planetary building block wandering inward from the outer rocky solar system during the chaotic era of planet formation.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
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For a glimpse of wildlife, ogle the bison wandering on the Wildlife Loop.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Wrapped around a rubbery bassline that Peter ran through a guitar amp and played straight into a laptop, the song is confident and brassy, sauntering around as Kellie Eden’s trumpet cascades from above and the band’s co-vocalists provide pop harmonies.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
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Longtime employees recall Turner sauntering into the newsroom wearing a bathrobe.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Luke Chau, a senior left-hander, threw a complete game two-hitter, striking out three and walking one.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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Gallagher threw 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball before walking Jackson Oman in the seventh, who came in to score.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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For this Nuggets lineup, the average comes out to a pedestrian 6-9, with three capable perimeter defenders to assist the heavy-footed centers, two 40% 3-point shooters to space the floor, and a surplus of play-making talent.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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The Knicks whipped the ball around the perimeter before Brunson used a Towns screen as a decoy to freeze Gobert and launch a pass to Anunoby that he’s forced to catch in stride and blow past the heavy-footed center for a bucket.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambling. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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