as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
Weeding Regular weeding is an effective way to get rid of stray grass that sneaks into your flower beds.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025
Samantha Riedel, Them., 21 May 2025
The formula won’t have stray hairs sticking to your pout, but will instead smooth the look of fine lines on your lips.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Adjective
The 13-year-old boy who provided a pistol to the teenage triggerman who killed a 16-year-old Bronx girl with a stray bullet not only handed over the gun, but picked it up and ran away with it when the shooter tossed it to the ground, prosecutors said Tuesday.
—Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
Weeding Regular weeding is an effective way to get rid of stray grass that sneaks into your flower beds.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025
Verb
In a roughly four-page dissent, Jackson criticized the Court for granting Libby’s request for relief, saying Libby had failed to demonstrate the urgent need for such relief and that granting the petition strayed outside of the Court’s usual criteria for such appeals.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 21 May 2025
The formula won’t have stray hairs sticking to your pout, but will instead smooth the look of fine lines on your lips.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stray
Adjective
-
But all that information exists in random, unorganized disorder.—
Jerry Weissman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
The bill also calls for the State Department of Education to conduct random surprise visits at private special education institutions.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who last week was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly trespassing at a detention center, and Representative Josh Gottheimer each had the backing of 9 percent of respondents.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
-
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka returned to the gates of an ICE detention center days after he was arrested for allegedly trespassing at the same facility.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
George, a backyard community cat who took up residence at the Loma Verde complex in Lakeland, Florida, grew impatient after getting neutered at the local SPCA and wandered nearly three miles back home, according to a press release shared with PEOPLE on Monday, May 19.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
19 May 2025
-
Researchers aimed to estimate the number of deaths each year caused by two factors: inadequate fencing to prevent young children from wandering into swimming pools and Americans not wearing a life jacket while boating.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Businesses now live in fear of retroactive rulings, arbitrary penalties and endless audits.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
-
The risks include wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.—
Nick Butler,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
Long-term Treasuries fell further Thursday; and yields, which trade in opposite direction to prices, continued to surge.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share