wander 1 of 2

wander

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wander are meander, ramble, roam, rove, and traipse. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

When might meander be a better fit than wander?

The words meander and wander are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When is ramble a more appropriate choice than wander?

The meanings of ramble and wander largely overlap; however, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When would roam be a good substitute for wander?

The words roam and wander can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When can rove be used instead of wander?

While in some cases nearly identical to wander, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

In what contexts can traipse take the place of wander?

The synonyms traipse and wander are sometimes interchangeable, but traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

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 wander
Verb
After saying goodbye, Jonas wanders through the West Village, flooded with a supercut of memories from the relationship as the love song’s opening chords kick in. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 15 May 2025 So far, no baseball players have wandered down that path. John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025 If students’ minds are wandering, the requirement of answering questions at regular intervals brings students’ attention back to the lecture. Zohara Assadipour, The Conversation, 14 May 2025 Without the puck, Nurse and Bouchard have the same weakness (read and react, wandering). Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wander
Verb
  • Animals roam freely without the need for paved paths.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
  • Phillip left that night with a wad of cash, and, still under the influence, began roaming the city.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Newark Mayor Ras Baraka returned to the gates of an ICE detention center days after he was arrested for allegedly trespassing at the same facility.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 13 May 2025
  • Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who last week was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly trespassing at a detention center, and Representative Josh Gottheimer each had the backing of 9 percent of respondents.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Rebalance Regularly Over time, your portfolio may drift from your original allocation due to market movements.
    Francis Gingras Roy, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • But the bullpen has drifted to the bottom third of the league thanks to a series of changes from last year, none bigger than Hoffman’s signing in Toronto.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • So in the end, how could this not be Beltré, who fell just short of 3,000 hits and 500 homers on this side of the Y2K line, while redefining what elite third-base leatherwork looked like?
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Xander Bogaerts began the bottom of the fifth with a walk and went to third when right fielder Jo Adell bobbled, ever-so-slightly, a single by Jake Cronenworth.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
  • Now, investors from all walks are facing another year of uncertainty prompted by President Donald Trump’s heavy-handed tariff policies, with the S&P 500 index down 4% so far in 2025 and some economists pegging the chances of the U.S. entering a recession this year as a coin flip.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Challenging the narrative Defense attorney Stuart Adelstein strolled over to the lectern, his eyes piercing the jurors just feet away from him.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
  • The Courant reported, in a story written in 1991, when the Pedlar approached its 100th anniversary, that the inn had seen many famous people stroll into its Victorian-style lobby and its dining room.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Before Jose Mourinho got the Chelsea job in 2004, playing 4-4-2 was the norm and few sides strayed from it.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Set in the same massive farmhouse that passes down from one family to another, the film never strays too far from its main location, venturing out to wander the nearby fields or dip into a picturesque river separating East and West Germany.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wander. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wander

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!