stray 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of straynext
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
Authorities said the 25-year-old woman was shot outside the portable building where the class was being held, while the 33-year-old woman was inside and hit by a stray bullet. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 The union claims that a month after the deadly incident, on July 16, a carriage horse stable owner asked Con Ed to check into the possibility of stray voltage in the area. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Verb
If straps are a nonnegotiable for you, this floral maxi dress has spaghetti straps that offer a bit more support without straying from Brunson’s A+ style. — Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 Some choices stray a bit too far from the immediacy of Lay’s voice and melodies, and in doing so, the sound gets muddied. — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
  1. random
  2. trespass
  3. scattered
  4. wander
  5. arbitrary
  6. fall
Adjective
  • One control heats the ions by applying random electric-field signals that add vibrational energy.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
  • Every piece of content must serve as a culturally relevant entry point that accumulates brand equity, especially when day-to-day audience engagement can be largely random.
    — Stefano Marrone, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of random
Verb
  • The area along the Cumberland River where more than 100 people once lived is now encircled by fences and no-trespassing signs.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 21 July 2026
  • Since then, no one has been cited, trespassed or arrested for bringing weapons into the park, city and police officials told the Orlando Sentinel.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2026
Definition of trespass
Adjective
  • During a walk through the park, CBS News Philadelphia also found scattered screws, metal fragments and broken glass in parts of the lawn.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • The right conversation could turn scattered effort into a working plan.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
Definition of scattered
Verb
  • After her Scout Stage set, indie-country singer Michaela Anne wandered over and climbed into the driver’s seat of the Terra.
    — Lori Majewski, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2026
  • According to Fusaro, the license plate readers have been used to quickly resolve Amber alerts and to find missing runaways or individuals with dementia who wander off, including those who have made it across state lines.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of wander
Adjective
  • Overturning the eighty-year-old world trade system by imposing arbitrary tariffs?
    — Mark Danner, The New York Review of Books, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The new cloak is designed to accommodate arbitrary inner and outer shapes while operating omnidirectionally.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 July 2026
Definition of arbitrary
Verb
  • For years, the FDA has fallen far short on meeting its modest annual goals for foreign food facility inspections, the US Government Accountability Office has found, as the agency struggled to hire and train inspectors.
    — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday, an 18-year-old was seriously injured after falling onto an elevated platform.
    — Ubah Ali, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall

Browse Nearby Words

straws in the wind
stray
strayed
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Cite this Entry

“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stray

Nglish: Translation of stray for Spanish Speakers

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