Synonyms of meander

meander 1 of 2

verb

as in to wander

to move about from place to place aimlessly

theatergoers meandering around the lobby waiting for the play to start

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wander
• roam
• stroll
• drift
• cruise
• float
• ramble
• rove
• traipse
• gallivant
• range
• saunter
• knock (about)
• amble
• galavant
• mooch
• gad (about)
• bat
• maunder
• dawdle
• kick around
• mope
• straggle
• stray
• mill (about or around)
• vagabond
• gypsy
• hobo
• tramp

meander

2 of 2

noun

as in tangle

Related Words

• tangle
• snarl
• web
• labyrinth
• maze
• warren
• catacomb
• knot
• rabbit warren
• cat's cradle
• entanglement
• jungle
• snare
• entrapment
• trap
• quagmire

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb meander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of meander are ramble, roam, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When would ramble be a good substitute for meander?

The words ramble and meander can be used in similar contexts, but ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When might roam be a better fit than meander?

The meanings of roam and meander largely overlap; however, roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When can rove be used instead of meander?

While in some cases nearly identical to meander, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is traipse a more appropriate choice than meander?

Although the words traipse and meander have much in common, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

When is it sensible to use wander instead of meander?

The synonyms wander and meander are sometimes interchangeable, but wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of meander

Noun

Park under those same oak trees, grab some catfish at Aunt Jenny’s, and then meander down to the lounge for a cocktail. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025

The leisurely trips meander along the Snake River, near Grand Teton National Park, for several hours. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025

My next run was a 5-mile jaunt along the Petit Balcon Sud, a shady trail that, after a short, lung-busting climb, meanders along a ridge just above Chamonix, offering views of the towering Mont Blanc Massif and the towns in the valley below. —Will Porter, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025

Even if that narrative promise turns out to be a red herring for the largely plotless, meandering installments that follow. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025

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