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
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
In 2020, he was commissioned to make a commercial for a pet-products company, and the result was a thirteen-minute meditation on loss and love, starring a black cat in a trench coat who wanders the ends of the earth.
—Dennis Zhou, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
For years, the center of our galaxy has been painted as a place where stars go to meet their end — a region ruled by Sagittarius A*, a black hole so massive that its gravity can stretch, tear, and swallow anything that wanders too close.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 2025
When Kyle’s finally back in his cell, Merle wanders aloud if Kyle appreciates having someone look out for him — implying that Mike has done a pretty poor job at keeping his brother safe.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2025
Yorgos wanders in, confused, asking what has happened.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Nov. 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
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
In 2020, he was commissioned to make a commercial for a pet-products company, and the result was a thirteen-minute meditation on loss and love, starring a black cat in a trench coat who wanders the ends of the earth.
—Dennis Zhou, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
For years, the center of our galaxy has been painted as a place where stars go to meet their end — a region ruled by Sagittarius A*, a black hole so massive that its gravity can stretch, tear, and swallow anything that wanders too close.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 2025
When Kyle’s finally back in his cell, Merle wanders aloud if Kyle appreciates having someone look out for him — implying that Mike has done a pretty poor job at keeping his brother safe.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2025
Yorgos wanders in, confused, asking what has happened.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Nov. 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
-
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
-
Scarlet wakes up in the Otherworld, an endless, arid landscape with an ocean for sky where a dragon roams.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Cleaning your oven, however, is something that falls within the former category.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Don't skip town without a visit to the Nutcracker Museum or the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, and be sure to also carve enough time to embark on scenic strolls through Waterfront Park along the Wenatchee River.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Daily life has been upended at schools, hospitals, stores and restaurants and in neighborhoods where sidewalks were once well-trodden with runners, people walking their dogs, families taking daily strolls and children heading back home after getting dropped off by the bus.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the teaser, Cliff lounges at a bar, drifts through a few film sets, and tears around a dirt track in a derby car.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 Feb. 2026
-
As the subconscious Moon drifts into your subtle 12th house, your optimistic spirit benefits from tranquility.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement Forty-six of my 76 first dates involved getting drinks, 13 were walks, and 11 were coffee.—
Sonya Gurwitt,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
As contact dwindled to occasional phone calls and walks, Holloway interpreted the behavior as confirmation of Youngblood’s narrative.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Where he was born never strays from Bobby’s mind.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanders. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
