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
-
Snow Leopards in Hemis In Hemis National Park, situated high in the Greater Himalayas in northern India, the famously elusive snow leopard roams across cliffs and valleys.—
Marion Miller,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The structure features a 3,200-square-foot open air enclosure for the butterflies to roam.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These friends, all Amazigh (Berber) nomads, have embarked on a musical voyage to celebrate their roots and share the richness of their heritage with the world.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Their sophomore effort is a fantasy following Princess Diana, who falls in love with young nomad Lalo against her father’s wishes.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
While the life of a filmmaker is peripatetic at best, Iñárritu and his wife, with their two children out of the nest, are trying to decide where to live.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But before long, this peripatetic entrepreneur will be back at cruising altitude.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
The southernmost individual on record lives in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro, just 200 kilometers from Mexico City, while the northernmost populations wander the Arctic coasts in northern Canada and Alaska.—
Ganesh Marín,
The Dial,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The mind could wander briefly about the Giants riding a two-game winning streak into a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Eagles, equipped to knock off their tormentors who suddenly look vulnerable.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone will also be able to visit the center to get an eye exam or buy a new pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses at its retail store, according to Vandana Pathak, UHealth’s assistant vice president for ambulatory services.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Plans call for a 200,000-square-foot medical office building with four floors above ground and a basement, hosting a cancer center, urgent care, an ambulatory surgery center and three floors of physician offices.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Spirit has spent more than a year trying to offer travelers roomier seats and other fare packages beyond the cheap tickets and a la carte add-ons like seat selection and cabin baggage that it’s been known for for years.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
-
United's four-times-weekly flights from Newark aim to connect American travelers with the cultural and coastal attractions of Puglia, including the region's iconic trulli dwellings.—
Ben Kelly,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rappelers dangle from the steel arch, thrill-seekers race across a zip line, and spectators cheer as colorful parachutes drift overhead.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Margit and Bonnie drifted further into Pam’s orbit and decided not to speak to Catherine, which made the lunchroom newly problematic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yeti has long been a go-to brand for adventurers and weekend wanderers alike, thanks to its durable coolers, tumblers, and drinkware that keep food and beverages at the perfect temperature.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The options were powerful, immortal, stranger or wanderer.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gadabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadabout. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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