1
as in rambling
passing from one topic to another
your decidedly wandering essay loses its punch—stick to one theme
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2
as in nomadic
traveling from place to place
a wandering carnival that visited small towns all over the South
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in roaming
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we just went outside and wandered around until it was time to go
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2
as in trespassing
to commit an offense
we have all wandered from the path of righteousness at least once in our lives
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wandering
Laura Manske, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
There’s an apple-pie baking contest, cute livestock and wandering entertainers, cheese-making and sheep-shearing demos and a panel discussion Saturday about protecting agricultural diversity, featuring Alice Waters and Albert Straus of Straus Family Creamery fame.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Young people who weren’t yet born or were small children when the adults around them were glued to the TV for days after the attacks, watching hopefully for rescues, seeing exhausted first responders, people who escaped the fallen towers in time wandering dazed and covered in dust.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wandering 
Adjective
Take in all of Bernardo’s wandering wonder, then listen to what makes your traveling heart beat stronger.
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
There’s an apple-pie baking contest, cute livestock and wandering entertainers, cheese-making and sheep-shearing demos and a panel discussion Saturday about protecting agricultural diversity, featuring Alice Waters and Albert Straus of Straus Family Creamery fame.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024
Verb
The pup was found in March wandering the streets of Straussburg, Pennsylvania, and then taken to a local shelter.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Young people who weren’t yet born or were small children when the adults around them were glued to the TV for days after the attacks, watching hopefully for rescues, seeing exhausted first responders, people who escaped the fallen towers in time wandering dazed and covered in dust.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wandering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wandering
Adjective
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In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2024
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His statement came a day after the release of the Netflix series, which takes viewers back to the morning after Christmas 28 years ago, when JonBenét’s mother called 911 to report finding a rambling ransom note and her daughter missing.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC News,
3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This land is inhabited by the Nenets people, nomadic reindeer herders who, guided by the seasonal cycles and the needs of their animals, migrate incessantly in an infinite circle of movements between ice, frozen rivers and incessant winds in search of new pastures in the most remote tundra.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
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Litton stayed at two different inns in Chico over eight days, reflecting his nomadic lifestyle, deputies said.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacramento Bee,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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According to Smithsonian, the institute’s idyllic backdrop, with open fields where patients could imagine animals roaming free, helped convince the doctor's dozens of patients that her practices were legit.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
5 Jan. 2025
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Between 2001 and 2004, there were so many shootings in Vancouver-area clubs that gang police started roaming through bars, throwing out anyone who looked like a drug dealer.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Downey said most off-roader-related calls have been logged as trespassing complaints.—
Karina Atkins,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Dec. 2024
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The nonprofit tried to stop homeless people from trespassing in the building during the past few months by covering doors and installing fencing.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Governor of Smolensk Region claims that all drones were successfully shot down, and the fire was caused by falling debris.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
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The ants’ stunning medical abilities have the potential to help where human ones are falling short.—
Carlyn Kranking,
Smithsonian Magazine,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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After ten days of cruising Antarctic waters, dodging icebergs, and spotting elephant seals, the cruise’s 140 passengers could toss their Dramamine, catch a plane from the gravel runway at Frei Station research base, and fly straight back to Chile.—
Blair Braverman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Dec. 2024
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Starting at $203,000, the Sportster 25 Surf is the company’s newest, smallest, and sportiest boat, engineered for wake-surfers skilled enough to bob behind a boat cruising at 11 miles per hour.—
Jaclyn Trop,
Robb Report,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Orlando Kansas Jayhawks senior big man Hunter Dickinson noticed something odd floating down from the rafters of Addition Financial Arena, home of the UCF Knights, during KU’s basketball shootaround on Saturday night.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2025
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Finally, skin is soothed with a soft, pink Qatari clay, which softens and gently scents the skin, and infuses the senses, leaving you blissfully ‘floating’ on your way out.—
Angelina Villa-Clarke,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near wandering
Cite this Entry
“Wandering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wandering. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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