as in plodding
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in strolling
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure
the couple enjoys ambling along the many footpaths that meander through the park
Synonyms & Similar 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 ambling
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
This shaded area is worth ambling through even if children are not in tow.
—Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Proto-Gabrielle in the Atlantic The most uncertain forecast of the three storms is the blob of storminess in the central Atlantic that's currently ambling its way west across the ocean.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Pizzolatto keeps his film light on friction, ambling at an easy, lackadaisical pace.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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
This shaded area is worth ambling through even if children are not in tow.
—Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Proto-Gabrielle in the Atlantic The most uncertain forecast of the three storms is the blob of storminess in the central Atlantic that's currently ambling its way west across the ocean.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Pizzolatto keeps his film light on friction, ambling at an easy, lackadaisical pace.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambling
Adjective
-
Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
-
At a plodding pace, the desert wilderness can be admired in all its granular splendor.—
Anna Zacharias,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He was also photographed strolling the Strip with that same group after being booted from the venue, according to the Daily Beast.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In addition to the Sonnenalp, all of the buildings in Vail Village were designed with European alpine architecture in mind, so walking around feels a bit like strolling through a wintry Bavarian fairytale.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the legislation kept that data hidden from public view, so agencies can hire wandering cops in secret – and small-town budgets create a powerful incentive to do so.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Doctors are not a flock of free-range chickens wandering about offices and hospitals and making up best practices, one clinician at the time.—
Robert M. Califf,
STAT,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Just over eight minutes were remaining on the clock when the buzz kicked up inside Spectrum Center again, all because the usual main attraction was sauntering to the scorer’s table.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The mall’s closure was a personal loss for him and many others who made lifelong memories sauntering the retail space.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
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
-
There was a woman in a camper on his property who had difficulty walking.—
Abrielle Kate Maddison,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Eventually, the officers spotted Brown and his girlfriend walking away from the section to the main hallway.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
