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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wanders
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
When Elizabeth wanders down below and sees the Creature, the two are mesmerized by one another.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
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
As Jacksonville wanders into town, talk percolates about Trevor Lawrence regaining his footing, of living up to his first overall pick billing.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
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
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
When Elizabeth wanders down below and sees the Creature, the two are mesmerized by one another.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
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
As Jacksonville wanders into town, talk percolates about Trevor Lawrence regaining his footing, of living up to his first overall pick billing.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
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
-
Over the course of extended scenes, the eye roams the frame, alighting on the pop of natural and manmade details alike.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the second—and maddest—section of the poem, the narrator, having fled in panic to France, roams the Breton shoreline.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The joyous gallows humor and horror-movie commentary of old are gone, and some inspired working-in of new technology falls apart.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The city cannot gamble with our care by pushing us onto a new plan that falls short for people it was supposed to protect.—
MaryAnn Berto,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is a great pick for springtime strolls, when meeting up with a friend for a walk means traveling light.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Spotting Godzilla calls for rapid knees-to-the-chest movements, not casual strolls.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Moreover, much of the air pollution across the region drifts northward from the Chicago area.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Once released, the robot’s shot is fate, untouched by the vigorous, broom-flailing choreography that so often determines whether a stone bites the button or drifts wide.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These kicks are made for long walks, busy travel days, intense sweat sessions, and everything in between; their versatility is seemingly infinite.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Travelers will be able to park, see their plane from the lot, move through security and board quickly – a contrast to the long walks and crowds at major hubs.—
Ken Molestina,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Wanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanders. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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