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
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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
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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
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But all that information exists in random, unorganized disorder.—
Jerry Weissman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Watch any random movie in the Cannes selection and you’re bound to see a parade of opening credits signaling production resources from across Europe, including many national film funds.—
Eric Kohn,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit argued that the two oil companies were public nuisances, that their pollution was trespassing into the counties, and that their pollution violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
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He was accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the Delaney Hall facility.—
Jake Offenhartz,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Across the street, walking to their apartments, Marta Becerra, 50, and Margarita Mota, 60, said people from the parking structure had wandered into their apartment complex, stealing bicycles and other items from people’s porches.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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Any Colorado wolves that wander into Utah, New Mexico or Arizona will be retrieved and brought back to the Centennial State, under agreements state wildlife officials inked with those neighboring states.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Businesses now live in fear of retroactive rulings, arbitrary penalties and endless audits.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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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
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Heavy rain is falling across the Kansas City area, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for parts of the metro.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
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Disproportionate burden of care Traditionally, child care and household duties fall squarely on mothers.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stray. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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