Synonyms for wander
Definitions
- v. 1
To move without purpose or specified destination; often in search of livelihood.
to wander over the fields
- v. 2
To stray; stray from one's course; err.
A writer wanders from his subject.
- v. 3
To commit adultery.
- v. 4
To go somewhere indirectly or at varying speeds; to move in a curved path.
Related words
- Word family
- wanderer wanderlust wandersome wanderstar
- Phrases
- wander off
Forms
- Past participle
- wandered
e.g. wandered → strolled, rambled, sauntered, drifted…
Choose the right word
Stray is in most uses a lighter word than wander.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- drift The ice may drift considerable distances each day.
- stroll Friend, how about we stroll through the Chinatown?
- ramble I tend to ramble, so stop me if I go off on a tangent.
- distract How does Mark distract himself from all that pain?
- roam Those rogue rebels do not deserve to roam the Earth.
By length
- 3 letters
- err1, gad1
- 4 letters
- roll1, cast1, wind1, mill1, swan1, roam1, rove1
- 5 letters
- range1, cheat1, drift1, stray1, weave1, tramp1, prowl1
- 6 letters
- thread1, depart2, stroll1, betray2, swerve1, ramble2, mander2, pootle, bimble
- 7 letters
- scatter2, deviate3, cuckold, diverge2, digress2, meander3, saunter2
- 8 letters
- distract2, vagabond3, straggle2, divagate
- 11 letters
- peregrinate
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (depart2 = 2 syllables).