as in wandering
to commit an offense
our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
After straying from their intended path, the duo became stranded after attempting to descend an extremely steep alpine couloir without climbing equipment.
—
Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
While Jenner is straying further from her old look, Kim Kardashian is paying homage to it.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
Mina Self Oversized Plaid Blazer A plaid blazer is a fall classic that feels fresh without straying too far from timeless.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, Crane has crossed the luxury tax during each of the past two seasons, straying from the precedents set earlier in his ownership tenure.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Inside the patchwork design, its detailed patterns with polka dots and geometric shapes modernize the look without straying too far from traditional barn quilts.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Frampton is adored in Irish boxing circles as a gritty fighter who claimed belts in two divisions without ever straying far from his working-class roots.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In November 2022, when early reports blamed a Russian missile for straying into Poland and killing two Polish farmers, then-US President Joe Biden was traveling in Indonesia was told about the crisis.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Four hikers who admitted to taking psychedelic mushrooms were rescued in New York’s Catskill Mountains after becoming disoriented and straying off the trail, officials said.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
While Jenner is straying further from her old look, Kim Kardashian is paying homage to it.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
Mina Self Oversized Plaid Blazer A plaid blazer is a fall classic that feels fresh without straying too far from timeless.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, Crane has crossed the luxury tax during each of the past two seasons, straying from the precedents set earlier in his ownership tenure.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Inside the patchwork design, its detailed patterns with polka dots and geometric shapes modernize the look without straying too far from traditional barn quilts.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Frampton is adored in Irish boxing circles as a gritty fighter who claimed belts in two divisions without ever straying far from his working-class roots.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In November 2022, when early reports blamed a Russian missile for straying into Poland and killing two Polish farmers, then-US President Joe Biden was traveling in Indonesia was told about the crisis.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Four hikers who admitted to taking psychedelic mushrooms were rescued in New York’s Catskill Mountains after becoming disoriented and straying off the trail, officials said.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straying
Verb
-
With the strap down, these clogs hold the heel securely and are great for wandering around the streets of a foreign city, walking the dogs, or even a little hike.—
Jakob Schiller,
Outside,
18 Oct. 2025
-
What looked like a shadow at first turned out to be the dog, skittish and exhausted from wandering.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hundreds of participants have been charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to assault and seditious conspiracy.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Mortimer was charged in Palm Beach, Florida, in April 2016 with trespassing the home of ex-boyfriend Nico Fanjul, son of sugar baron Alex Fanjul.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This just makes the upcoming six-game homestand critical for the Wild in not falling too far behind in the Western Conference.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since December 2024 last month, experts projected that rates would continue falling—even if ever so slightly.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straying. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share