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

Synonyms & Similar 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

Verb

With the bucolic backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains as their playground, the sisters spent their days disappearing into the forest and meandering along creeks. —Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025

The trailer can carry the pack, or the pack can carry the trailer, providing the versatility to navigate variable terrain ranging from wide, meandering paths to rough talus ascents. —New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2025

Noun

Get Out of Your Car The Fort Bottom Trail is a 3.4-mile out and back that leaves White Rim Road at mile 65 and meanders across the slickrock to the ruins of a stone structure built by the indigenous people that inhabited the area hundreds of years ago. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2025

Brazilian designer Cris Porto brought the meanders of the Amazon River, the crystalline waters of the Maldives — and dozens of hues of tourmalines, the star product from her home state of Minas Gerais. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 10 Feb. 2025

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