as in rambling
passing from one topic to another
a meandering interview with the presidential hopeful that covered everything from his family life to his proposed foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
theatergoers meandering around the lobby waiting for the play to start
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Recent Examples of meandering
Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
After a meandering start to the new year, the index came within a whisker of that high in late January.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
So the 458 Pro Campervan is ultimately more of a novelty or special use vehicle, good for short camping trips down slow, meandering country roads but downright incompatible with more ambitious RV trips.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2026
The seven-mile Torreya Challenge Loop steadily climbs and dips, meandering over creeks, an old forest road, and blackberry brambles, following a ridge where mountain laurels bloom in the spring, and visitors can find the steepest incline in the park.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026
Overtopping its banks in flood, willfully changing its course, meandering without any regard for imaginary lines written across terrain, water presents a serious problem to those who police those imaginary lines.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2026
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
In Houston, passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport spent hours Tuesday navigating meandering security lines that twisted and turned across multiple floors.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
But closer inspection of the current Farm Bill that is now meandering through Congress — entitled The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 — reveals some potentially troubling inclusions worth digging into.
—Anthony Pahnke, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
The concrete structure’s open layout encourages meandering discovery, with works chosen to reveal new affinities and connections across cultures and centuries.
—Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
After a meandering start to the new year, the index came within a whisker of that high in late January.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
So the 458 Pro Campervan is ultimately more of a novelty or special use vehicle, good for short camping trips down slow, meandering country roads but downright incompatible with more ambitious RV trips.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2026
The seven-mile Torreya Challenge Loop steadily climbs and dips, meandering over creeks, an old forest road, and blackberry brambles, following a ridge where mountain laurels bloom in the spring, and visitors can find the steepest incline in the park.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026
Overtopping its banks in flood, willfully changing its course, meandering without any regard for imaginary lines written across terrain, water presents a serious problem to those who police those imaginary lines.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2026
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
In Houston, passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport spent hours Tuesday navigating meandering security lines that twisted and turned across multiple floors.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
But closer inspection of the current Farm Bill that is now meandering through Congress — entitled The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 — reveals some potentially troubling inclusions worth digging into.
—Anthony Pahnke, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meandering
Adjective
-
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wear it with sandals to the beach, throw on sneakers for wandering around town, and add a cardigan when the evening gets breezy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to wandering tourists, expect to see theater crew, set designers, actors, and matronly sensei in pastel kimonos and big, pinned up hairdos haunting the vicinity.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The whole thing was a striking visual spectacle, too — waves of musicians rising from both sides, backup singers swaying and clapping, spotlights sweeping across the floor as a roaming camera zipped through the crowd like a drone that had just discovered country music.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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Other tips include not leaving pet food outside, not touching or feeding free-roaming animals, keeping yard landscaping trimmed, keeping lids on trash containers, and closing home crawlspaces.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Conley noted that the car was drifting in its lane and had a license plate obscured.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Even college football is drifting toward a more fragmented, paywalled future.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The change of seasons opens up all sorts of possibilities, from long walks through woods to strolling along city streets to drives through the countryside.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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Outside, the Jill Griesse Historic Garden is always open for strolling among the magnolias and soaring plume poppies.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meandering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meandering. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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