Straggle

/ˈstɹæɡl̩/ · verb

Meaning

(intransitive) To stray, rove, or wander from a normal course and others of its kind..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To stray, rove, or wander from a normal course and others of its kind.
2. (intransitive) To act in a disorderly and irregular way.
3. To move along slowly so as to remain some distance behind the person or people in front.
4. An irregular, spread-out group.
5. An outlier; something that has strayed beyond the normal limits.

Example Sentences

He straggled away from the crowd and went off on his own.

What, feareful coward, ſtragling from the camp, When Kings themſelues are preſent in the field?

The wolf spy'd out a straggling Kid.

Trim off the small, superfluous branches on each side of the hedge that straggle too far out.

Our Authors ſay there are no Elephants in China, which muſt be underſtood of the Provinces they knew, where, in truth, there are none. Father Martini writes, that they begin to be met with at Nanning, in the Province of Quangli, where the Inhabitants uſe them for War and for Carriage. Some there are alſo in the Province of Junnan ; nor is it a wonder that theſe Creatures, who ſo ſwarm in the Indies, and in Tungkin or Tonquin, ſhould ſtraggle hither.

straggling pistol shots

They came between Scylla and Charybdis and the straggling rocks.

Then there was no more cover, for they straggled out, not in ranks but clusters, from among orange trees and tall, flowering shrubs[…].

Synonyms for straggle

Antonyms for straggle

Related Words

Word Forms

• straggles
• straggling
• straggled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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