meander 1 of 2

meander

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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
Historians believe this may have been caused by a stint in the Osa River, which meandered through the area in centuries past, and had a bridge crossing not far from where the items were found. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025 Far below, waves lashed Punta Chiappa, a rugged promontory that stretches from the base of Monte di Portofino into the sea. From San Rocco, the trail meandered past a cluster of tidy houses, their gardens fragrant with rosemary and citrus, before plunging into the forest. Gina Decaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
Feed your mind by taking part in one of the hotel’s learning programs, or walk off all the amazing cuisine by strolling the trails that meander around the property and connect to the Foss Creek Trail. 11. Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025 Families meander in and out of the covered market, and on most corners, someone is playing accordion or another instrument for your pleasure (and a few donations). Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 21 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for meander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander
Verb
  • Elderly residents wandered off without supervision, medications weren’t properly administered, and emergency pull cords in some bedrooms didn’t work, the state alleged.
    Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Droids also wandered about recently at SXSW in a presentation by Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman called The Future of World Building At Disney.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • All the while, the brain hosts an even more complex tangle of chemicals.
    Elana Spivack, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The fighting is fueled by the region’s vast mineral wealth, and driven by a tangle of ethnic and political conflicts, as well as decades of bad governance.
    Patricia Huon, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Room to roam: Wild Heaven Beer West End Communal seating, fire pits, and clear lines of sight to children running around offer ample opportunities to relax.
    Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Loading your audio article SAN JOSE — Karlie Lema had the ball at her feet and plenty of green grass to roam.
    Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Kokkonen needs more snarl After drawing praise from Sheldon Keefe to start training camp last year, Mikko Kokkonen is quietly putting together another stellar AHL season.
    Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Adabi said adding traffic lanes does not necessarily relieve freeway congestion, though that seems to be the most straight-forward approach to solving the snarls.
    Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Visitors can stroll downtown and receive samplings as well as a complimentary flower from each location.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
  • From learning just enough French to ordering your café et croissant from the neighborhood boulangerie, to strolling around an artistic arrondissement, taking in the various shops and street style at a leisurely pace.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Talk into the night devolves into an intricate web of deception, seduction and revelation, where the lives of all involved may be destroyed or transformed.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Ivey’s coaching staff also casts a web of support to protect her from outside noise and aid her vision for the team’s present and future.
    Sharí Nycole, Essence, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • As another season at Tottenham Hotspur drifts towards an uncertain close, questions over the future of head coach Ange Postecoglou loom large.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The Standard & Poor’s 500 slipped 0.3% after drifting between small gains and losses several times through the day.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Exploring the veritable labyrinth of luxury—past the couture salon displaying Jean Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent treasures, the jewel-box bathrooms, and down the spiral staircase—guests eventually arrived at the storied Red Room.
    Freya Drohan, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The water level in the labyrinth of underground pipes began to drop, creating a vacuum in the system.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meander. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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