MEANDERING Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

meandering 1 of 2

adjective

as in rambling

passing from one topic to another a meandering interview with the presidential hopeful that covered everything from his family life to his proposed foreign policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

meandering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of meander

as in wandering

to move about from place to place aimlessly theatergoers meandering around the lobby waiting for the play to start

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 meandering

Verb

The original five were targeted for arrest after a local farmer tipped off police to a suspicious group of people meandering near the base, in vans bearing fake business logos. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 An excellent choice for meandering to the city’s biggest tourist draws. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The first meandering rivers and floodplains developed as tree roots stabilized soil and prevented its erosion, while at the same time locking away vast amounts of atmospheric carbon into the nascent soils. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 Remodeled from an existing hotel, the boxy structures are connected by meandering paths and stairways punctuated by olive and bamboo trees. — Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026 Woody is prone to meandering and hippy-dippy monologues, as a weed-loving anarchist. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 Together, these meandering megastructures form the most dramatic contribution to the city’s cultural landscape in more than a decade. — Sam Lubell, Curbed, 21 Sep. 2026 Stitched together, these scenes form a meandering narrative that responds to Wilson’s own proclaimed curiosities, but also apertures onto thornier and more existential topics. — Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 18 Sep. 2026 Dapper locals meandering into the town square to secure their spot at the caffè. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for meandering

Adjective

Dylan Young and his Melbourne group fill their third album with winsome and warm tracks whose best moments combine rambling guitars with tales of bruising regret.

— Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
After the event was disrupted by an armed intruder, the Administration and the association scheduled a July do-over, where Trump delivered a rambling speech indulging seemingly every tangent that sprang to mind, but his contempt remained apparent.

— Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of rambling

Verb

The experiment goes wrong, the Farmer disappears and a large, hairy creature begins roaming the woods around Mossingham.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
What’s most notable is the number of young people roaming around the market well before the crack of dawn, Chris says.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of roaming

Verb

That young Israelis are drifting right is in many ways a reflection of how Israeli society differs from other wealthy democracies.

— Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
And the question, increasingly, is how to engage with Chinese capability without drifting into invisible dependence.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of drifting

Verb

Sail the coast, explore the jewel-like beaches, spend days strolling the Old Town and nights sipping sunset cocktails by the water.

— Vogue, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Nearby, other park visitors were strolling along the seawall and looking out over the Potomac River to view pink clouds reflected in the river.

— Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of strolling

Browse Nearby Words

meandered

meandering

meanders

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Meandering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meandering. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of meandering

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes