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
Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Last week, stray bullets led to the death of at least one person in a displacement camp and others being injured.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
While Section 4 requires the BLM to remove wild, free-roaming horses and burros that stray onto private land at the landowner’s request.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Adjective
From the stray strands that always manage clog the shower drain, to the time-consuming drying and styling process, inches chopped off the length of your hair literally removes weight off your neck and shoulders.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Last week, stray bullets led to the death of at least one person in a displacement camp and others being injured.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
The stakes of this exchange should be higher considering all Steve has to lose, but A Minecraft Movie never strays beyond the surface.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
While Section 4 requires the BLM to remove wild, free-roaming horses and burros that stray onto private land at the landowner’s request.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
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Her old boss Raymond King (J.K. Simmons), someone Chris had helped, was shot dead in LA and left a wall of random evidence involving a broken family, human trafficking and global assassinations.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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The company, which started in 2015 and sells itself as a meal kit service, is actually closer to an online grocery store than a place that’s going to send you half an onion wrapped in plastic and a tiny baggy of cumin to make some so-so black bean tacos or a random stir fry.—
Carina Finn,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The military is now authorized to search and temporarily detain individuals who trespass on the New Mexico National Defense Area, provide medical assistance and implement crowd control measures until law enforcement arrives to take them into custody.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
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Wheeler was previously convicted of trespassing charges from March 18, 2020 and Nov. 18, 2022.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Adjective
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Most times, these changes are a result of the over-analysis of some arbitrary KPIs meant to gauge the health and growth of the platform.—
Solo Ceesay,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2025
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In short, protectionism grants states too much arbitrary power to intervene in the market and thus spawns more platforms for the exchange of political favors.—
JAVIER CORRALES,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rising bond yields Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds typically fall – and their prices rise - as investors flee stocks for the safe haven of Treasuries during economic slowdowns.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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Sales are falling partly due to rising competition from other automakers’ EV offerings, especially in China.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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