STRAY Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

stray 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of stray

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

stray

2 of 2

verb

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

Adjective

Several nearby houses were hit by stray bullets, and one man said his van was hit by at least two rounds. — Nick Caloway, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Heat, stray electromagnetic signals, vibrations, and cosmic rays can disrupt their delicate quantum states, causing errors during calculations. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

Telhou uses primal shouts to keep the herd together, while Saâdia uses a slingshot contraption to skillfully throw stones at straying goats. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 The Mediterranean diet has been hailed as one of the healthiest styles of eating for longevity and lower disease risk, and boy kibble does stray from the method in its heavy reliance on animal proteins and low diversity of plants, Mulvihill said. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stray

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray

Adjective

On the way across the bay, Melanie is attacked by a random seagull, setting up the sinister plot device.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Davis confessed to taking mushrooms, grabbing a gun, and shooting at random people in South Beach.

— Anna McAllister, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of random

Verb

Those who visit the site are trespassing, and Rafford said the owner cites safety concerns.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Israel wages war on childhood because a Palestinian child at play is already trespassing upon the future Israel has reserved for itself.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of trespass

Adjective

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found al-Faraj’s detention arbitrary, according to a report published in December 2024.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
Someone set the arbitrary number at ten, and the whole point of the exercise is to whittle the list down to ten.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026