as in wanders
to commit an offense
our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow
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Recent Examples of strays
Internet commenters and auto critics responded negatively, saying the Luce strays from the brand’s usual aesthetic.
—
Alexa St. John, Fortune, 27 May 2026
The distributor plans a moderate national expansion to about 375 screens (exact number still TBD) next week to let world of mouth percolate for the popular TIFF-premiering heist thriller by Daniel Roher about a piano tuner (up-and-comer Leo Woodall) who strays into safecracking.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 May 2026
Her family had 15 cats and several dogs, most of them strays.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
The Alma set is an elevated geometric option for the person who prefers a pattern that strays from the traditional stripe or floral.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
Bridget Woodman, with the research group Zero Carbon Analytics, said that as the world strays farther off track from its climate goals, nuclear can look deceptively more enticing than other less risky alternatives, like renewable energy.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
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, 22 Feb. 2026
Becket questions some of his actions from time to time but never really strays from the path.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Developed by Fox Estates—which also holds the listing—and designed by Studio MTN, the home intentionally strays from typical clichés, forgoing the rustic vibes of classic mountain properties in favor a softer, more restrained style.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
Alexa St. John, Fortune, 27 May 2026
The distributor plans a moderate national expansion to about 375 screens (exact number still TBD) next week to let world of mouth percolate for the popular TIFF-premiering heist thriller by Daniel Roher about a piano tuner (up-and-comer Leo Woodall) who strays into safecracking.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 May 2026
Her family had 15 cats and several dogs, most of them strays.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
The Alma set is an elevated geometric option for the person who prefers a pattern that strays from the traditional stripe or floral.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
Bridget Woodman, with the research group Zero Carbon Analytics, said that as the world strays farther off track from its climate goals, nuclear can look deceptively more enticing than other less risky alternatives, like renewable energy.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
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, 22 Feb. 2026
Becket questions some of his actions from time to time but never really strays from the path.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Developed by Fox Estates—which also holds the listing—and designed by Studio MTN, the home intentionally strays from typical clichés, forgoing the rustic vibes of classic mountain properties in favor a softer, more restrained style.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strays
Verb
-
Klepper wanders the streets talks to people about the state of America and the current political administration.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
4 June 2026
-
The Littlest Hobo will be a live-action drama reimagining of the classic Canadian TV series, which first aired in Canada in 1979 about an ownerless German Shepherd dog who wanders from town to town helping people.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
No two film or TV shoots are alike, as each director and team of department heads have to find their own unique rhythm that falls somewhere on a spectrum between meticulous storyboarding and completely improvising on set.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 June 2026
-
For elderly patients, prolonged stays in hallways increase the risks of delirium, falls, sleep deprivation, loss of dignity, and prolonged recovery.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 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
-
God’s likeness, which is our true, spiritual identity, never sins and is never punished.—
Tony Lobl,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strays. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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