roam

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb roam contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of roam are meander, ramble, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

Where would meander be a reasonable alternative to roam?

The words meander and roam can be used in similar contexts, but meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When might ramble be a better fit than roam?

Although the words ramble and roam have much in common, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When is rove a more appropriate choice than roam?

While the synonyms rove and roam are close in meaning, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When would traipse be a good substitute for roam?

While in some cases nearly identical to roam, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

When can wander be used instead of roam?

The words wander and roam are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 roam Then on Friday night, after 529 days roaming Kangaroo Island, off South Australia, the tiny dog with a pink collar was finally cornered, and the internet erupted with rare joy. Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025 And these critters are far from the only strange, funky caterpillars roaming Hawaii. Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2025 Anyway, this is for sure: No meaner grizzly than that one ever roamed the mountains of Montana! Howard Copenhaver, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2025 For years, tales of giant squids roaming the ocean depths lived mostly in folklore and maritime legends — dismissed as mythological creatures without solid scientific backing. Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for roam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roam
Verb
  • After a 3-month long girls trip along Florida’s Gulf Coast, a wayward pair of endangered North Atlantic right whales known as Curlew and Koala have finally wandered back to the Atlantic Ocean.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Alberta is skeptical… until Hetty points out how Pete has been wandering and dating up a storm, was secretly in the mafia and punched Thor in the face after the Viking slept with Carol.
    Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Roam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roam. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on roam

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