as in wrong
off the desired or intended path or course
I think we were led astray by the unfortunate similarity of the two names
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Recent Examples of astray
Breakfast is a more casual affair on the patio, where fresh smoothies, fruit, and granola keep the wellness crowd on the straight and narrow—until traditional Sicilian cakes and pastries such as apricot cake lead them astray.
—
Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
In a hilarious new promo video ahead of her Saturday Night hosting stint this weekend, the singer gets all prepped to face the New York City cold before her plans to enjoy some holiday magic go astray.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2025
Arriving early also helps, as bags checked at the last minute are more likely to go astray.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
In calling for change at the national level, Almond pointed to Jesus’ parable of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to rescue one that has gone astray — a lesson about valuing every life.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for astray
Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
In a hilarious new promo video ahead of her Saturday Night hosting stint this weekend, the singer gets all prepped to face the New York City cold before her plans to enjoy some holiday magic go astray.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2025
Arriving early also helps, as bags checked at the last minute are more likely to go astray.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
In calling for change at the national level, Almond pointed to Jesus’ parable of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to rescue one that has gone astray — a lesson about valuing every life.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for astray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astray
wrong
Adverb
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While the initial explanation from the Padres was that King slept wrong, doctors told him the nerve got stretched too much over time and essentially shut off for a while.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
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Trump’s taste is the stuff of legend, a sort of grotesque of the conventional, with his gold baroque glop and fake tans and bright-red neckties—everything gesturing toward high-end elegance but always wrong somehow, always slightly too much.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Astray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astray. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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