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
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Recent Examples of stray
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Dallas police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday about whether officers responded to any calls involving injuries from stray bullets or fireworks.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Shah hopes this framework strays from rigid nutrition advice that tells women to get on restrictive diets that demonize certain foods and are hard to follow and sustain.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Adjective
Don't leave out food for stray cats, either.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Dallas police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday about whether officers responded to any calls involving injuries from stray bullets or fireworks.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Edwards said the group leans hard on A/B testing to determine which types of calls are most successful and then doesn’t stray far from that path.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Shah hopes this framework strays from rigid nutrition advice that tells women to get on restrictive diets that demonize certain foods and are hard to follow and sustain.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
-
Even more striking, the gas moved in a very orderly and coherent way, with far less random motion than the surrounding stars.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Not random or easily forgotten.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Parking on private property that isn't yours means Hoosiers can be asked to leave and possibly trespassed, according to Leslie Kelly, vice president of program strategy for Horizon House, an agency that supports people experiencing homelessness.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
23 Dec. 2025
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The notice warned that anyone who remained could be subject to arrest for trespassing.—
David Hudnall,
Kansas City Star,
18 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Its fractured, scattered form, grasping for structure instead of pretending to master it, is an attempt to build a future that will include both author and reader.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
1 Jan. 2026
-
On Sunday, rain will pick up across the Midwest from Kansas and Missouri through Ohio and Pennsylvania while scattered thunderstorms are possible from Arkansas up to Ohio, with some possibly strong enough to bring gusty winds and maybe an isolated tornado.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Still, much of the time Froud was content, wandering the set after just learning to walk, unfazed by the elaborate production around him.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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That morning, in a new suburb of Glendale, three-year-old Kelly Keen wandered, unattended, out of her house and into the driveway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The National Police has been repeatedly cited by national and international human rights organizations for excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, and the mistreatment of protesters and civilians.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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Critics say those distinctions are arbitrary and unfair, being based on outdated assumptions and bad science.—
Kevin Krause,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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