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
Kayaking the quiet waters of the Greenbrier River One of the most peaceful paddling experiences in the state is the Greenbrier River, which meanders through eastern West Virginia and provides miles of calm waters perfect for gentle kayaking and scenic float trips by inner tube. West Virginia Tourism, AFAR Media, 9 May 2025 This meandering final season did not have a specific group as its target. Judy Berman, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
High pressure meanders in this area year-round and helps steer moisture from the Gulf and Caribbean into the US. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025 Nearby attractions: For a stroll beneath the trees, meander through one of the city’s largest parks, Bosque Chapultepec. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander
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
  • Signs include house-training problems, memory loss, disorientation and confusion, startling easily, staring into space or at walls, wandering aimlessly, getting stuck in corners, getting lost in familiar places, and obsessive behaviors, among others.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Long story short, the uncontrolled airflow of a standard blow dryer can create tangles galore on loose to tight curl patterns while the nozzle detachment used to create a smooth blowout effect does away with curls entirely.
    Georgia Day, Vogue, 14 May 2025
  • Before Carrier’s tangle of fraudulent loans collapsed and was exposed in court, there were signs of trouble.
    Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Those two have scheduled meet and greets, but other characters like The Invisible Man and Ygor roam throughout Dark Universe.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The refrigerator was not cold enough and two cats roamed the shop, violating state food code.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Runway construction and bad weather added to Newark travel snarls in recent days.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 5 May 2025
  • More than 100,000 motorists pass through Wheat Ridge, Denver and southwestern Adams County every day on Interstates 70 and 76, often in maddening traffic snarls.
    John Meyer, Denver Post, 5 May 2025
Verb
  • So, waders are people who just stroll through and say, ‘Oh, this is nice.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • In what has become a familiar sight on the Croisette, Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne strolled up the red carpet to present their new film to a welcoming crowd.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • But then the genre all but disappeared at the box office, as people were getting their comedy through various web sites, social media and Marvel movies.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
  • On the ground floor there is also a window display dedicated to its signature web motif in green/red/green and in blue/red/blue established in the mid-1950s.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The student wasn’t hurt, but the boat started drifting.
    Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
  • From casting a line and drifting beneath cottonwoods to paddling through splashing whitewater, adventures on the San Miguel are a refreshing way to experience its rhythms.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • This particular one was modeled after the labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral and dedicated to John-Roger after his death.
    Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
  • The giant spreads his arms to gesture at the labyrinth of pages, then throws his head back in cackling laughter.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meander. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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