meander 1 of 2

Definition of meandernext

meander

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb meander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of meander are ramble, roam, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When would ramble be a good substitute for meander?

The words ramble and meander can be used in similar contexts, but ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When might roam be a better fit than meander?

The meanings of roam and meander largely overlap; however, roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When can rove be used instead of meander?

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

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is traipse a more appropriate choice than meander?

Although the words traipse and meander have much in common, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

When is it sensible to use wander instead of meander?

The synonyms wander and meander are sometimes interchangeable, but wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

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 meander
Verb
Following the 1967 war, a rope of asphalt had replaced the rubble and barbed wire, meandering through the city like an unwanted river. Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026 Gone are the days of meandering to the neighborhood shops or spontaneously driving his Lexus up to Fort William to surprise his daughter Zaima on her descent from Ben Nevis. Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026 Madrid, Spain Solo travelers can easily lose track of time meandering the Spanish capital of Madrid, taking in the gorgeous architecture and history at one of the many museums. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026 Imaginative Neptune meanders into your 11th House of Social Causes, encouraging kinder connections — the sort of relationships that further creative endeavors and amp up hopefulness. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander
Verb
  • For something more low-key, wander down to the local beach from the hotel’s beach club, stopping off for a fresh coconut along the way.
    Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Cherniack said Healey, who was identified for the first time Monday, was known to wander about the premises.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Leaving sheets in the dryer for an extended period gives them more opportunity to wrinkle or tangle.
    Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The debate took place against the backdrop of a tangle of state policies.
    Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Luke Skywalker will roam Black Spire Outpost seeking knowledge of the Force and kyber crystals that power lightsabers.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Rock iguanas once roamed freely across the islands of Turks and Caicos.
    Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The one-time Sacramento State All-American linebacker was stuck in the snarl of rush-hour traffic in Southern California, his car inching along while his heart and mind were racing.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Oklahomans are bracing for what could be the most impactful storm of winter, set to bring a combination of snow, ice and frigid weather, which forecasters warn could knock out power and snarl travel for days as freezing temperatures persist.
    Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • He was also photographed strolling the Strip with that same group after being booted from the venue, according to the Daily Beast.
    Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In addition to the Sonnenalp, all of the buildings in Vail Village were designed with European alpine architecture in mind, so walking around feels a bit like strolling through a wintry Bavarian fairytale.
    Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • While civilians surf the world wide web like an information superhighway, one prominent lawyer compared inmates’ internet access to a one-lane dirt road.
    Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Nirvanna the Band the Show, which ran as a web series from 2007 to 2010 and then as a sitcom from 2017 to 2018 on Viceland, was not known for its stunts.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Snowflakes drift down like tiny nets, moving slowly and exposing lots of surface area, gathering more pollutants than fast-falling raindrops.
    Isabel Lopez, Parents, 11 Feb. 2026
  • There will be debates over whether the games have drifted too far from the original Olympian model and whether some, less-popular sports should be discarded in favor of more crowd-pleasing competitions.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Employees in bright teal polos walked the floor with smiles on their faces, ready to answer any of our questions or direct us through the labyrinth of a store.
    Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Round touch screens in various rooms took us through a labyrinth of tiny-text options just to set the temperature to 68 degrees.
    Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meander. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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