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
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 stray
Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Last week, stray bullets led to the death of at least one person in a displacement camp and others being injured.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
While Section 4 requires the BLM to remove wild, free-roaming horses and burros that stray onto private land at the landowner’s request.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Adjective
From the stray strands that always manage clog the shower drain, to the time-consuming drying and styling process, inches chopped off the length of your hair literally removes weight off your neck and shoulders.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Last week, stray bullets led to the death of at least one person in a displacement camp and others being injured.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
The stakes of this exchange should be higher considering all Steve has to lose, but A Minecraft Movie never strays beyond the surface.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
While Section 4 requires the BLM to remove wild, free-roaming horses and burros that stray onto private land at the landowner’s request.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
-
Her old boss Raymond King (J.K. Simmons), someone Chris had helped, was shot dead in LA and left a wall of random evidence involving a broken family, human trafficking and global assassinations.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The company, which started in 2015 and sells itself as a meal kit service, is actually closer to an online grocery store than a place that’s going to send you half an onion wrapped in plastic and a tiny baggy of cumin to make some so-so black bean tacos or a random stir fry.—
Carina Finn,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
In short, protectionism grants states too much arbitrary power to intervene in the market and thus spawns more platforms for the exchange of political favors.—
JAVIER CORRALES,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The plaintiffs had argued that the geographic targeting order was unlawfully issued without undergoing the notice-and-comment procedures prescribed by federal law and that the rule is arbitrary and capricious under federal law.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
And bond market yields fall by about 150 basis points (1.5 percentage points).11 The Fed Fed Chair Powell says the Fed is waiting for the softening survey data to translate into hard data before moving toward lower interest rates.—
Robert Barone,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The one year anniversary of the album’s release, fell on the date of Billboard Women in Music Awards, where Adell commemorated the date among various women in the industry, such as Doechii.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Essence,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share