1
as in hobo
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living
be wary of the vagabonds in that corner of the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
after they retired, the couple bought an RV and became footloose vagabonds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nomadic
traveling from place to place
a vagabond group of entertainers that performed in rough-and-tumble mining towns
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 vagabond
Darryl Seligman, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Injuries help to explain the vagabond nature of Burdi's career.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
Colin Stutz, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2017
Hill’s book teems with sloppy and obvious devices (to the point of cliche), including a vagabond narrator (Steve Pacek) preempting for us the obvious songs that require no explanation.
—Jim Rutter, Philly.com, 24 Sep. 2017
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025
In 1978, Wenner sold the magazine to Larry Burke, a young man from Chicago who had spent a chunk of his twenties vagabonding around Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vagabond
Noun
This interstellar vagabond presumably formed in a protoplanetary disk of gas and dust swirling around another star, the sites of active planet formation.
—Darryl Seligman, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Injuries help to explain the vagabond nature of Burdi's career.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
By modern standards, Wray's story feels like rock and roll lore that edges on pulp: As a child, he was raised in poverty in Dunn, North Carolina, and learned to play guitar from a vagabond bluesman named Hambone.
—Colin Stutz, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2017
Hill’s book teems with sloppy and obvious devices (to the point of cliche), including a vagabond narrator (Steve Pacek) preempting for us the obvious songs that require no explanation.
—Jim Rutter, Philly.com, 24 Sep. 2017
Verb
The jam band scene – long reigned over by groups like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band – exploded in the Nineties as newer artists like Phish and Widespread Panic began filling arenas and fomenting their own rabid vagabonding fanbases.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025
In 1978, Wenner sold the magazine to Larry Burke, a young man from Chicago who had spent a chunk of his twenties vagabonding around Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vagabond
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vagabond
Noun
-
In fact, that hobo-style bag (which Kennedy was often photographed using to shield herself from paparazzi) ushered in a new era of softer and much more versatile handbags for women everywhere.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
27 Mar. 2026
-
On March 19, the 53-year-old actor was spotted filming a new project in New York City wearing a pair of cream suede ankle booties with a bit of a relaxed scrunch that went perfectly with the vibe of her cozy flannel button-down, oversized robe cardigan, and slouchy hobo bag.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Under the Zagros Mountains outside Shiraz, a family of Iranian nomads and their reticent sons investigate the disappearance of twelve sheep while navigating their flock through the modern city of poets in this dreamy documentary.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The rooms Eschewing the predictable Greek island white-on-white aesthetic, the look is more global nomad than Cycladic purist.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Founded in 2000 in the living room of translator Olivia Sears, the Center has long been a nomadic institution with no static address.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Athletics got to Yankees closer David Bednar in the ninth inning Wednesday night, paving the way for a 3-2, series-tying victory for the nomadic visitors at Yankee Stadium.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pair’s snow boots tramped the nearly week-old Kansas City snow, two candles clutched in their small hands.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Imagine The Goonies with a half dozen adults tramping through the caves.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Antinous later shocked the other suitors by insulting and assaulting with a footstool an elderly beggar who had spoken to him in the palace hall.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
-
So disguised as a beggar, Odysseus shows up at his palace, and he is not treated very nicely by the suitors who have camped out in his house.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some travelers have even tucked it under the headrest of the seat in front of them (with the passenger’s permission).—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Supporters argue the change would simplify travel and reduce confusion for passengers, as baggage policies vary widely between airlines, with some travelers welcoming the idea of standardized rules.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Actress Jodie Foster was just photographed toting the perfect hands-free carryall—sort of like a hybrid, crossbody-bag-meets-bum-bag.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Coach told us to be first one to the ball and to make those 50/50 plays, to do it on a bum ankle but still being able to give it my all and leave everything there for my teammates.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On stage, Josh and Melissa, our wanderers from the land of reality, are subsumed into an actual musical rather than a vaguely Truman Show-style refraction.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Voice like a warm porchlight left on for wanderers who kissed goodbye too soon or stayed too long.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vagabond.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vagabond. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
