stray 1 of 2

Definition of straynext

stray

2 of 2

verb

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
Adjective
Hot, dry conditions across states from California to Colorado to Utah have officials worried that any stray spark from fireworks could ignite an out-of-control conflagration. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Compost piles can house wasps and rodents while also attracting every stray dog and raccoon in the neighborhood. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Verb
The Stars probably do not want to stray too far from Rantanen’s salary. Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Notion, however, has strayed from releasing direct follow-up products to Skiff’s portfolio. Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
  • Luka Dončić got traded at midnight on a random Saturday in February.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Pinned to their random assortment of hats were scrawled, handmade signs proclaiming liberty or death.
    Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • How the climbing couple got past security Prosecutors told the judge on July 2 that the defendants had trespassed overnight in the building before making the climb.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Instead of Cady as rapist, Cape Fear seems to be going for a general theme of Cady as violator, someone who is trespassing not singularly on a female body but on the Bowdens’ trustworthiness.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • The right conversation could turn scattered effort into a working plan.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • If your data is messy, scattered or stale, the AI output fails.
    Sagi Eliyahu, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • However, because his hearing aids connected directly to the ringtone, the two ended up wandering around the house, using the changing volume to narrow down its location instead of listening for the phone itself.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Modeled after a European village, the collection of boutiques, restaurants, and attractions is a great place to wander.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • Every state taxes alcoholic beverages, though the tax treatment of certain alcoholic beverages may appear arbitrary.
    Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The war period saw its own moments of threats to rights, such as suspending habeas corpus, the legal mechanism to prevent arbitrary detention.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The woman fell about 1,500 vertical feet, from around 12,000 feet to about 11,500 feet.
    Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • The report will also provide insight into whether American workers’ paychecks are falling further behind inflation.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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