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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

Examples 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
The Context Trump announced his proposal during a meandering news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday morning. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025 Critics of the show’s third season called it meandering, confusing, and ultimately not as satisfying its first two seasons. Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
Normally, the jet stream resembles a real stream, slicing directly across the country with perhaps a few small meanders. Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025 Energy-intensive enterprises, especially advanced manufacturing, around the upper reaches of the Yellow River, the Hexi Corridor, Yellow River meander, northern Hebei, Songliao, and the lower reaches of the Yellow River especially have opportunities to grow rapidly. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for meander 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander
Verb
  • Only another party of two had wandered in during our meal.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Inside, wander through palaces and halls, as well as Musamman Burj, an octagonal tower where Shah Jahan is believed to have been imprisoned by his son.
    Tanvi Chheda, AFAR Media, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The diplomatic tangle was particularly complicated for Italy, which is a historic ally of Washington but maintains good relations with Tehran.
    Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Letting the roast simmer for hours in a mixture of pickled jalapeño brine and fish sauce yields a fall-apart tangle of meat that’s wildly good on soft rolls or over piles of rice.
    Margaux Laskey, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • With millions of animals roaming our planet, some are rarely spotted by people.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
  • His dribbling ability helps him in tight spaces as well, or when roaming towards the wide areas (as can be seen below).
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Monsters snarl, roar, and go bump in the night, but the racist humans Atticus encounters are just as monstrous, and the contrast works.
    Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
  • One approach, adopted by Lynda Benglis, Urs Fischer, and Christopher Wool, involves digitally capturing a chance form—a squeeze of clay, a snarl of wire—then enlarging that scan to monumental proportions, both dramatizing and satirizing the superpowers that artists now have at their disposal.
    Glenn Adamson, ARTnews.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Indeed, Jokic strolled to the huddle expressionless after Aaron Gordon embraced him and Ball Arena erupted.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Pick up permits to visit or camp in the state park, stroll through a 2-acre desert garden, explore an expansive interpretive exhibit that covers the history, geology, and culture of the surrounding area, or buy a souvenir in the gift shop.
    Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to streaming via a web browser, Mubi offers apps for mobile phones, media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), and Smart TVs.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Even those with home web access may not have unlimited data plans.
    Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Its parts have been wearing down, its oil has been running low, its ignition timing has drifted, its catalytic converters have clogged.
    Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The band of seaweed annually stretches across the Atlantic, peaking in summer, and drifts west, often piling up on islands in the Caribbean, or continuing into the Gulf of Mexico.
    Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Those familiar with Greek mythology know the story of Icarus, who was gifted a pair of wax wings in order to fly out of the labyrinth where he was imprisoned.
    Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
  • See it Beneath a bustling city in Peru, an ancient labyrinth stretching thousands of feet has been uncovered, showcasing the architectural prowess of its creators.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meander. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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