wander 1 of 2

verb

ˈwän-dər How to pronounce wander (audio)
Definition of wandernext
1
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly we just went outside and wandered around until it was time to go

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to trespass
to commit an offense we have all wandered from the path of righteousness at least once in our lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wander

2 of 2

noun

as in stroll
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure a wander through the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wander are meander, ramble, roam, rove, and traipse. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

When might meander be a better fit than wander?

The words meander and wander are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When is ramble a more appropriate choice than wander?

The meanings of ramble and wander largely overlap; however, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When would roam be a good substitute for wander?

The words roam and wander can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When can rove be used instead of wander?

While in some cases nearly identical to wander, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

In what contexts can traipse take the place of wander?

The synonyms traipse and wander are sometimes interchangeable, but traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

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 wander
Verb
Stop near the entry at The Trailhead Store for a coffee, pick out a native plant at The Farmhouse Garden Center, and wander the walking trails. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 The Hunters and Firebells, who would play the following day, wandered the grounds in full uniform. — Jaclyn Licht, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
Gardone Riviera itself is worth a wander, with the eccentric Vittoriale degli Italiani, the former estate of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, a short walk from the hotel. — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Skubal was last seen yelling profanities at magic wander Mike Vasil but would nevertheless fit in well in the Sox clubhouse and give Sox fans reason to believe this team can do something in October. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wander
  1. roam
  2. trespass
  3. stroll
  4. drift
  5. fall
  6. walk
  7. stray
Verb
  • The young mayor has instead focused on labor protection, citing taxi drivers as the main point of concern with allowing robotaxis to roam Manhattan.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • New teams of crisis intervention and community violence prevention workers will soon roam portions of the agency’s Red, Blue and Green rail lines.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of roam
Verb
  • Police say riders have been trespassing in MDOT work zones, including areas associated with the Restore I-94 project, where large dirt and aggregate piles have been used as obstacle courses.
    — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Court ruled that easements permitting the location of Line 5 across Tribal lands expired in 2013 and Enbridge in effect has been trespassing since.
    — Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of trespass
Noun
  • This darling 1950s fishing cottage is just a couple minute’s stroll from Hither Hills beach in Montauk.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Hadid and Cooper, who have been dating since 2023, both debuted their new rings during a stroll in Paris on August 3.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • If decisions about that work keep drifting toward people at spreadsheet distance from it, the mistakes will not land on them.
    — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Reilly two-putted for par, and won the match when Cowan's par putt drifted to the right.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Brokerages price crypto like an asset class, a few dozen basis points and falling.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Kabita quickly fell pregnant with a daughter of her own, Sonam.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • Tatis, reading the moment well in just his third pinch-hitting appearance this year, earned a four-pitch walk.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Their deep lineup made Kent work, drawing five walks in four-plus innings against the 23-year-old.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of walk
Verb
  • Ultimately, the group strayed too close to the slopes of Perry’s Peak and was caught after a large avalanche released nearly 400 feet above them.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Why would a langur stroke a squirrel, or macaques groom stray dogs?
    — Cyril Grueter, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of stray

Browse Nearby Words

wan
wander
wandered
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Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wander. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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