STRAYING Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

straying

verb

present participle of stray

as in wandering

to commit an offense our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 straying In August, at Finland’s request, the Swedish government deployed fighter aircraft and a warship to help patrol Finland’s eastern airspace and the Gulf of Finland against Russian air incursions and drones straying from Ukrainian operations. — Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Charlie Weasley is a minor character in the books and does not appear in the films, so the HBO series is straying from the movies regarding Ron Weasley’s older brother. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026 With Johnson rarely straying from the topic during his tight set, Katie Zacharia’s five-day stint got what will probably be its best tribute and final bit of attention. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 As all women know, the more sparkle, the better (without straying into tacky territory, that is). — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 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 sheep were straying from the road, veering through the front yards of homeowners who weren’t in the grazing program. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026 At 31, his playing career appears to be finished, or certainly straying dangerously close to that position. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 The clock is ticking, not just because Gideon may be straying further from the light, but because Kylie is unknowingly tampering with dark forces to save him. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straying

Verb

Here in Spring City a few experiences are essential, like digging into crossing-the-bridge noodles (guòqiáo mǐxiàn) and wandering the Dounan flower market, one of the largest in Asia.

— Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
Voters didn’t elect Democrats to play secretive games, to plot and plan in the dark for future moves, or worse — to continue the status quo of wandering around in disarray as Republicans stay in lockstep.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of wandering

Verb

Oil prices plunged over the past week, sinking by $25 to their lowest point in three months and briefly falling below $90 a barrel Tuesday.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026
The pipeline from military service to national political leadership is well-established in the United States, yet the number of veterans in political office is falling.

— Brandon J Archuleta, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026