Thesaurus results for MEANDER

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

meander 1 of 2

verb

Definition of meander next

as in to wander

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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meander

2 of 2

noun

as in tangle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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Recent Examples of meander

Verb

The contractor meandered; irregularly walked the pharmacy aisles, pretended to eye the shelving again. —

Liz McNeil, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 Half marathon participants will meander through the park on a path with minimal hills, taking them past the merry-go-round, L.A. Zoo and more. —

Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2025

Noun

Hiking trails meander through tropical forests and sea turtles breed along the coastline. —

Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2025 Sometimes, parts of the vortex can detach and meander south. —

Andrew Freedman, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for meander

Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander

Verb

Each August, visiting Grandma Ida, my husband and son and I would wander the city (Detroit Institute of the Arts!

— SPIN Contributor, SPIN, 11 Feb. 2025
Then, caught in a flood that submerges everything, the cat ascends and eventually wanders toward a boat with a capybara, lemur, stork, and golden retriever.

— Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025