meander 1 of 2

meander

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meander
Verb
Soybeans and corn meander from Midwest farms all the way across the Pacific to feed China’s large (and growing) livestock industry. Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 The experience changes with each season, and our January version yielded sun, crisp temps, and very few other visitors—which made for a perfect mind-clearing meander. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
Otherwise, they’re usually spotted meandering alone, and their path may appear random and chaotic. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025 To this day, Britain’s Brexit path remains meandering and slow. Jonathan Haskel, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for meander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander
Verb
  • So a guineafowl moving at a slow jog of 1 km/h (0.6 mph) – roughly the pace of a wandering toddler – through Alexander's formula would be estimated as 4.7 km/h (2.9 mph).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 June 2025
  • Guests are invited to wander the gardens, join sourdough baking classes, and basically geek out on where their food comes from.
    Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • About a dozen streets on it bore names; the rest was a tangle of lines.
    The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025
  • That development was paused amid a tangle of lawsuits in 2023 and 2024, but is moving forward after the cases were resolved in November and March.
    Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Among the chaos is Rupert Friend, playing Martin Krebs, who's assembling a group to take to the scene of the devastation in hopes of extracting DNA from the creatures roaming the island to fund his next medical breakthrough.
    Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Bear numbers swelled, and by the mid-2000s, more than 600 bears roamed the Yellowstone area.
    Christine Peterson, Vox, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Service may be rendered with a snarl instead of a smile.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 June 2025
  • The vote followed assurances by the developer that its planned road improvements would alleviate Bailey Road traffic snarls, not add to them.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Usher, 46, and his wife strolled around together in casual attire, while Gates, 69, and his serious girlfriend coordinated in black outfits.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • Into this world strolls Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a rough-around-the-edges veteran driver who (literally) crashed out of Formula One several decades ago.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Our micro-scale community web has resulted in strong relationships, new businesses, cleaner streets, a sense of safety and the ability to rally for greater causes than any of us could do alone.
    Anastasia G Mcateer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
  • That future web is one in which most people and organizations depend on AI for most tasks.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • From the moment Voyager 1 appears on screen, floating in silence, then drifting seemingly out of the theater screen toward the audience, the stereo work adds depth and immersion without ever becoming a gimmick.
    Scott Snowden, Space.com, 18 June 2025
  • Some critics argue General Catalyst’s industrial-scale strategy is drifting from classic venture capital.
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Each insurance company seems to have its own labyrinth of portals and billing procedures.
    Paulina Wierzbicka, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Deep beneath the Zagros Mountains in central Iran, in a labyrinth of fortified tunnels outside the city of Natanz, centrifuges spun at speeds too fast for the eye to track.
    Nik Popli, Time, 19 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meander. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on meander

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!