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 You’d be forgiven for not straying greatly from the Four Seasons. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026 But the story straying from the typical clichés made the role stand out, Marsh says. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 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 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 In an affidavit cited by the Dallas Morning News last month, Howard said Wirskye considered the agreement breached after Howard mentioned during opening statements that Anthony was in the chess club, straying beyond the events under the tent. — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straying

Verb

The update comes on the heels of security footage from Clarkson’s visit to the store being released, showing Clarkson wandering the store for about five minutes, including a rather brief interaction with a shop employee.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
As the song played, people from neighboring studios, including hip-hop producers and other musicians, began wandering in.

— Alex Distefano, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of wandering

Verb

Israel wages war on childhood because a Palestinian child at play is already trespassing upon the future Israel has reserved for itself.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 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.

— Mikella Schuettler, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of trespassing

Verb

The disruption has sent transits through the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb falling sharply after mostly recovering to their pre-war levels.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
This all comes at a time when supply is falling — and falling faster than demand is recovering.

— Diana Olick, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026