as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to trespass
to commit an offense
our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stray
Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Bo was a stray dog in Brevard County, Fla.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Sep. 2025
Owen Clarke, Outside, 25 Sep. 2025
During the early parts of the race weekend, drivers and team personnel were seen taking pictures alongside stray cats.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Adjective
Someone told me about a couple of stray goats that needed a home and asked me to take care of them.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Bo was a stray dog in Brevard County, Fla.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
If parties stray off course, anything can happen.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 25 Sep. 2025
During the early parts of the race weekend, drivers and team personnel were seen taking pictures alongside stray cats.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
-
She is also banned for life from owning companion animals, is subject to random house visits, and has to pay a $150 fine, as well as restitution of just over $1,000 to the Clermont County Animal Shelter.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
-
These patches are selected at random during construction, making each item even more unique and serving as a special tribute to Disney fans’ love of mystery items and pin collecting.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
During the 2022 incident, an unknown person motioned toward Newton to arrest Mitchell for trespassing.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Denver7 reported that authorities had received three reports of a suspicious person trespassing on private properties along State Highway 103 this week, including two properties on Peaceful Valley Lane in Idaho Springs on Monday.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
By comparison, campaign two felt more scattered and improvisational (befitting a D&D game).—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The threat for heavy rain in South Florida is diminishing, however typical scattered thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours are still possible in the area through the weekend.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s the feeling that this is all just another day at the office, albeit one with enormous gladiators wandering around in the background.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Sandberg was there wandering around the clubhouse sopping wet from a mixture of champagne, beer and rain water along with other Cub greats, protected by a yellow rain slicker.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Cuba’s leaders have pursued a slow, narrow and sometimes arbitrary path toward economic privatization – especially when contrasted with other officially communist countries in Asia.—
Joseph J. Gonzalez,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The unions have asked the court to declare that both OMB and OPM have exceeded their statutory authority and acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner, and to invalidate any actions that may come from the memos and guidance issued.—
Franco Ordoñez,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Zay Flowers, who finished with a receiving line of 5-for-72, fell a yard short of a long TD on a 56-yard gain.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
City administrator echoes points other municipalities have stated Brown presented a series of slides and data pieces that, among other facts, showed the city has lagged further behind in terms of property revenue increases falling short of 3% inflation on existing services on average.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share