as in wanders
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 strays
Despite the sidebars into prickly themes, the book never strays far from what its subtitle promises.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Shah hopes this framework strays from rigid nutrition advice that tells women to get on restrictive diets that demonize certain foods and are hard to follow and sustain.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025
In the final slide of the post, the actress shares a video clip of one unusual decoration at her home that seemingly strays from the Christmas theme.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
The best time to trim leggy or strays stems, shoots, vines, and branches is during the plant’s growing season.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Merciless, vile, and downright sadistic, The Rite delivers stunning entertainment that strays away from depending on shadows and eerie atmospheres.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Balenciaga strays away from a more experimental fashion approach the maison has been pushing under Demna, but also under its founder.
—Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2025
Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician whose support was key to Kennedy’s final confirmation, and Senator John Barrasso, a surgeon and the number two Republican in the Senate, who rarely strays from the party line.
—ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
The actual practice is noticing when your attention strays and bringing your mind back to your breath, linking your mind and body together in the present moment.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Shah hopes this framework strays from rigid nutrition advice that tells women to get on restrictive diets that demonize certain foods and are hard to follow and sustain.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025
In the final slide of the post, the actress shares a video clip of one unusual decoration at her home that seemingly strays from the Christmas theme.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
The best time to trim leggy or strays stems, shoots, vines, and branches is during the plant’s growing season.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Merciless, vile, and downright sadistic, The Rite delivers stunning entertainment that strays away from depending on shadows and eerie atmospheres.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Balenciaga strays away from a more experimental fashion approach the maison has been pushing under Demna, but also under its founder.
—Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2025
Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician whose support was key to Kennedy’s final confirmation, and Senator John Barrasso, a surgeon and the number two Republican in the Senate, who rarely strays from the party line.
—ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
The actual practice is noticing when your attention strays and bringing your mind back to your breath, linking your mind and body together in the present moment.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strays
Verb
-
Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Worse, the tariff burden is a regressive tax that falls hardest on lower-income households and small businesses with less bargaining power.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
There’s nothing as cozy as snuggling up in front of the fire while snow falls peacefully outside.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
John DeWitt, the four-star general who oversaw the internment program, in particular, seems to be a forerunner to some of America's worst errors, paranoia, sins.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strays. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
