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

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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

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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

Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 Located at the very front of Roman, this hat-like shade pops open once the observatory reaches orbit, blocking stray light from entering the telescope barrel and helping protect the telescope's sensitive optics throughout the mission. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Even in the most pluralistic society, straying from the prevailing orthodoxy (or heterodoxy, as the case may be) can land you in trouble. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026 For readers already burned out on pumpkin spice, these releases offer a way to try something new without straying far from the coffee-shop menus that define the season. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stray

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray

Adjective

Raman is now easily scoring off of Bass mishaps, like the mayor’s response to the Lineage warehouse fire and her random broadside against street vendors during a debate in Sherman Oaks last month.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Several Chinese research teams developed and tested the coherent routing system for bucket-brigade quantum random access memory, or QRAM, Science and Technology Daily reported on Wednesday.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of random

Verb

The Tohono O’odham Nation said that even if construction were contained to the Roosevelt Reservation, driving onto tribal land to access the area still constitutes trespassing.

— Mikella Schuettler, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
The Tohono O'odham Nation said that even if construction were contained to the Roosevelt Reservation, driving onto tribal land to access the area still constitutes trespassing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of trespass

Adjective

The scattered pieces of the former storm will likely drift over the Caribbean and soak Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola with a few inches of rain, some of which will reach Florida.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
The right words can turn scattered details into a workable plan.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of scattered

Verb

About an hour later, the hikers called the sheriff’s office for directions but eventually wandered off the Clear Creek Route and into Mud Creek Canyon.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Outside, addicts wander peg-legged in the pulverizing triple-digit late summer heat, past attorneys in cream sport coats and copper-red ties.

— Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of wander

Adjective

Vucic has pushed hard against the protesters, sparking international concern over police violence and arbitrary detentions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Vucic has pushed hard against the protesters as the government faced international criticism over police violence and arbitrary detentions of demonstrators.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of arbitrary

Verb

The share of mid-cap companies in that has increased to 20% from 14% while that of 100 large-cap companies has fallen from 78% to 72%, the report showed.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
The company says its reactor’s electrical output falls within the range of a high-performance vehicle drivetrain.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026