as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to trespass
to commit an offense
our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stray
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Lastly, Anthony Mackie recently told the story of the stray cat in Half Nelson.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
All were a far cry from President Trump, who chose not to stray from his MAGA-red tie.
—Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Adjective
Yet in all that crumbling concrete, there were stray weeds and flowers — the artists and thrill-seekers who grooved on the funk and the fear.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Lastly, Anthony Mackie recently told the story of the stray cat in Half Nelson.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
But to cast itself as such a savior, China will need to create a society that is at least broadly prosperous and stable and whose large armed forces are capable but seldom stray from the barracks or port.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
All were a far cry from President Trump, who chose not to stray from his MAGA-red tie.
—Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
-
If my random and unscientific survey of some French opinion at all represents the nation’s as a whole, then the debut of Donald Trump’s America has left some French triste — a bit sad, even brokenhearted, and also wary and vigilant.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
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Bored and with time on his hands between games against the Louisville Bats, Jayson Werth and a few of his Syracuse SkyChiefs teammates wandered over to Churchill Downs on a random day in May, 2002.—
Dana O'Neil,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The military is now authorized to search and temporarily detain individuals who trespass on the New Mexico National Defense Area, provide medical assistance and implement crowd control measures until law enforcement arrives to take them into custody.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
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Wheeler was previously convicted of trespassing charges from March 18, 2020 and Nov. 18, 2022.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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After a 3-month long girls trip along Florida’s Gulf Coast, a wayward pair of endangered North Atlantic right whales known as Curlew and Koala have finally wandered back to the Atlantic Ocean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Alberta is skeptical… until Hetty points out how Pete has been wandering and dating up a storm, was secretly in the mafia and punched Thor in the face after the Viking slept with Carol.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Even the country’s closest democratic allies and largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, faced ridicule, seemingly arbitrary import tax rates, and threats of territorial ambition.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Volkswagen, meanwhile, had its own arbitrary rules, limiting subpoenas to fewer than seven days’ worth of data.—
Dell Cameron,
Wired News,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rising bond yields Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds typically fall – and their prices rise - as investors flee stocks for the safe haven of Treasuries during economic slowdowns.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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Sales are falling partly due to rising competition from other automakers’ EV offerings, especially in China.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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