Thesaurus results for MEANDER

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

meander 1 of 2

verb

Definition of meander

as in to wander

to move about from place to place aimlessly theatergoers meandering around the lobby waiting for the play to start

Synonyms & Similar Words

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meander

2 of 2

noun

as in tangle

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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

An excellent choice for meandering to the city’s biggest tourist draws. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The first meandering rivers and floodplains developed as tree roots stabilized soil and prevented its erosion, while at the same time locking away vast amounts of atmospheric carbon into the nascent soils. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 While recent litigation has held social media companies responsible for harms to users, federal legislation of social media has meandered and AI legislation has lagged. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 This flowy trail meanders through shade and sun and is suited for a range of abilities, from families with young children to trail runners looking for a quick workout. — Abigail Bliss, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meander

Recent Examples of Synonyms for meander

Verb

Crowley, once a logging camp, can’t be reached by road, but train passengers can wander among picnic tables, fire pits, cornhole games and a massive, gnarled old redwood known as the Wolf Tree.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Bucks will temporarily abandon much of their natural caution and wander around in unfamiliar territory searching for does.

— Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wander

Noun

The ejection of water molecules favors the interaction, supporting the alignment needed for the messy tangle to grow.

— Mike McRae October 13, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
This tangle of contradictions had served in the Army for over four decades, spending several years as Army Chief of Staff.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of tangle

Verb

More mature than the party hordes that roam this part of town, the vibe here is the casual elegance that blends drinking rum out of a pineapple while retaining your sophistication while doing it.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
More than 180,000 giant tortoises roaming freely on our atoll is proof of what long-term commitment to conservation can achieve.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of roam

Noun

His Lamb goes from a brash Yorkshire showman to a callous profiteer of human vice and misery, his cheeky smile becoming a vicious snarl.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
This year’s Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer with closures, travel snarls and record gas prices in California.

— Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of snarl

Verb

One early Saturday morning in June of 2025, a pair of very small raccoon cubs, about six weeks old, were strolling around the yard, exploring their world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, Vision loses control of Ultron’s prison, and Ultron strolls free.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of stroll

Noun

Decodo, a web data company, tracked price changes in 2025 across products ranging from electronics to clothing and home improvement supplies.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Watch for unexplained web addresses, encoded strings or commands that download and immediately execute remote scripts.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of web

Verb

The autumn sun is drifting southward and the angle of shadows is shifting.

— Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of drift

Noun

In postwar Spain, a young girl discovers a mysterious labyrinth and a magical world while living under the rule of her brutal stepfather.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Outdoors, we were greeted by sculptures from Joan Miró’s labyrinth to Alberto Giacometti’s courtyard.

— Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of labyrinth

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“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meander. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of meander

verb

noun

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Synonyms of meander

verb

noun

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