as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
he gads about town every Saturday, flirting and gossiping with various shopkeepers and locals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in peripatetic
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of gadabout
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021
Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout.
—New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020
So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020
Adjective
The wild career of David Johansen — New York Dolls frontman, punk gadabout, occasional actor, and Buster Poindexter portrayer — will be the focus of an upcoming documentary co-directed by Martin Scorsese.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021
Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout.
—New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020
So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadabout
Verb
-
Some of the most notable included the iconic bell tower, the central fountain, the roaming pack of feral cats, and the massive gingko trees that loomed over a section of the academic quad and carpeted the sidewalks with golden leaves each fall.—
Katherine Polcari,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In its world, resurrected mammoths roam, AI governs underground facilities, and human-animal hybrids embody both triumph and ambiguity.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For aspiring nomads, understand that flexibility must be earned through trust, consistency and clear communication.—
Rodolfo Delgado,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Quick hits While the center battle has been decided, Canales said the kicking competition between NFL nomad Matthew Wright and rookie Ryan Fitzgerald is ongoing.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But before long, this peripatetic entrepreneur will be back at cruising altitude.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
5 July 2025
-
The Running Man production was a far more peripatetic affair, as the cast and crew moved from the Scottish city of Glasgow to Wembley Stadium, to Leavesden, and finally to Bulgaria.—
Clark Collis Updated,
EW.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
While there’s not a lot to see and do, every bit of it is worth experiencing, so pick a pretty day and wander over to Waverly for a few hours of chatting with friendly folks, digging into good food, and scouring shelves for cool finds.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Whether sailing across Lake Zurich or wandering the Kunsthaus, the city reveals itself seductively.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In April, the authority referred a medical business that was interested in building an ambulatory surgery center at River Ridge to Hollenbach-Oakley, per the development agreement.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Fox combats his symptoms, such as paralysis of his facial muscles, through medication and trains to preserve his ambulatory skills.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Porter thinks airport lounges can be part of what’s offered to travelers, and won’t go away.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Benefits for Charlotte with Middle Eastern nonstop The new route is expected to create opportunities for people in Charlotte, from leisure travelers to business professionals.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The former Chelsea and Aston Villa winger offers Sunderland something slightly different in terms of being a left-footed player who drifts in from the right.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The weather is almost always perfect, the mountains are endlessly inviting, and state's inland gems, like the ever-popular Palm Springs, offer plenty of magic for weekend wanderers.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Dijon’s music, perhaps as a result, bears the markings of a wanderer, a seeker, someone who’s never fit neatly into any box.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gadabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadabout. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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