1
as in roams
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we just went outside and wandered around until it was time to go
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in falls
to commit an offense
we have all wandered from the path of righteousness at least once in our lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in strolls
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure
a wander through the woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 wanders
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The next morning, Greg wanders across campus in his rumpled suit.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
As the pensive Moon wanders into your vocal 3rd house, your mind buzzes with activity.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
The story begins with a scene that taps into every parent’s worst fear, when a five-year-old child wanders off from a family birthday party.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
The permit allows the ranchers to kill any wolf who wanders onto private land on two grazing allotments near the Gila National Forest in Catron County, as well as on federal land within the allotments, if the wolf is actively hurting livestock.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
In Virgil’s epic, Aeneas wanders after the fall of Troy, searching for a new homeland.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Albers said that if a dog wanders too close to a coyote den during puppy season and a territorial adult coyote is at home, the encounter may not end well for the house pet.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
Marcloid wanders patiently through these generative soundscapes like a documentarian in thrall to the process, recording snapshots of the music’s continuous ecosystem.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
As the molten iron in the outer core moves around, the magnetic North Pole wanders.
—Scott Brame, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
When a lonely fisherman desperate for an heir wanders into a strange, otherworldly light, he's soon joined by a young orphan named Camilo.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
When machines provide automation, human attention wanders and capabilities decay.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
There are other doors, and through one of these our hero wanders.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
Graham Potter wanders onto the pitch alone.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The next morning, Greg wanders across campus in his rumpled suit.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
As the pensive Moon wanders into your vocal 3rd house, your mind buzzes with activity.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
The story begins with a scene that taps into every parent’s worst fear, when a five-year-old child wanders off from a family birthday party.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
The permit allows the ranchers to kill any wolf who wanders onto private land on two grazing allotments near the Gila National Forest in Catron County, as well as on federal land within the allotments, if the wolf is actively hurting livestock.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
In Virgil’s epic, Aeneas wanders after the fall of Troy, searching for a new homeland.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Albers said that if a dog wanders too close to a coyote den during puppy season and a territorial adult coyote is at home, the encounter may not end well for the house pet.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
Marcloid wanders patiently through these generative soundscapes like a documentarian in thrall to the process, recording snapshots of the music’s continuous ecosystem.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
It’s perfectly situated for wanders down the beautiful expanse of Flamand beach or hikes to the highest point of the island.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
As the molten iron in the outer core moves around, the magnetic North Pole wanders.
—Scott Brame, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
When a lonely fisherman desperate for an heir wanders into a strange, otherworldly light, he's soon joined by a young orphan named Camilo.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
When machines provide automation, human attention wanders and capabilities decay.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
There are other doors, and through one of these our hero wanders.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanders
Verb
-
The five-person cast roams the room, sitting at various circular tables to blur the lines between script and improvisation.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
-
So this fox crossed an ocean to arrive in a borough where its own species already roams free.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Grapevine surges from behind, falls short Lake Creek provided most of the pressure early in the match, keeping the ball in Grapevine’s end and getting off six shots before the Mustangs started pressing in the 26th minute.—
Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, once an aristocratic mansion, falls somewhere between the avant-garde works at the Reina Sofia and the traditional Spanish art at the Prado.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For beach days, pool parties, and casual strolls around town, these best-selling flip-flops make for a comfy footwear choice.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wandering through the wash, the mind drifts not to the film but to the flash floods that move through this channel after heavy rains, sudden torrents cutting and reshaping the valley floor in a matter of hours.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Written by Mescudi, Doe explores themes of addiction and survival through the lens of a man living on the streets of Hollywood who, over the course of 24 hours, drifts through a series of encounters that pull him in and out of the cycles of his compulsion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dogs are carried on their walks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Tatis’ idea Stammen said the sacrifice bunt laid down by Tatis at the start of the 12th inning, which got Cronenworth to third base before the two intentional walks, was not called from the dugout.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanders. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
