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 Some of those losses stemmed from carelessness, with his supreme confidence occasionally straying into casualness. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Although Martha’s thoughts are clouded by her desire to undo Anne’s condition, her section also abides by the terms of realism, never straying too far from what could be considered ordinary life. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 Hundreds of wild horses straying outside a swath of territory spanning California and Nevada are set to be rounded up starting Wednesday, July 8. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 8 July 2026 About 50 yards below me a water fence is built out into the river to keep cattle from straying. — Ralph Tuttle, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026 This is a commonsense safety upgrade that would enable drivers to tether their horses and prevent them from straying. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Over the decades the O’odham placed some barbed wire along the border to keep livestock from straying into the neighboring country, limiting the spread of maladies such as foot-and-mouth disease and hindering cattle thieves. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026 The incursion underscores a growing pattern of Russian and Ukrainian drones straying into Eastern Europe, raising questions about air defenses as NATO and EU leaders condemn Moscow and weigh further sanctions. — Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 The lawsuit accuses Altman and his top lieutenant, Greg Brockman, of double-crossing Musk by straying from the San Francisco company’s founding mission to be an altruistic steward of a revolutionary technology. — ABC News, 11 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straying

Verb

Before catching an afternoon game, grab some breakfast and take your time wandering through animal exhibits before heading to the stadium.

— Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Tourists can enjoy wandering through this gem's stunning blue and white hilltop towns and tasting authentic, fresh Mediterranean food.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Definition of wandering

Verb

Global markets were also mixed, with South Korea’s Kospi stock index falling another 6% Wednesday as doubts over massive investments in artificial intelligence once again led investors to dump chipmakers’ shares.

— Yuri Kageyama, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Hikers in an area of the San Bernardino National Forest are being warned of falling rocks after one woman was injured, and another woman died after she was suspected to have been hit in the head by a large boulder.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 29 July 2026