straying
Leaving the path
Straying is wandering from a proper path or place.
Animals stray from their owners; people stray from their spouses, their principles, or the topic at hand.
The word implies departure from where one belongs or should be: a few straying thoughts, straying from the main argument.
A straying eye wanders toward what it shouldn't.
Lacking sense of direction
- lostUnable to navigate
- off-courseDeviating from intended path
- misguidedBased on poor judgment
- bewilderedThoroughly puzzled and confused
confused · directionless · adrift · missing · vanished · wayward · gone · untraceable
Separating from a common point
- departingIn process of leaving
- veeringChanging direction suddenly
- digressingDeparting from subject
- deviatingDeparting from standard
diverting · swerving · drifting · aberrant · tangential · off-topic · wandering · detour
Making mistakes
- slippingLosing footing unintentionally
- lapsingGradually ceasing to hold
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- transgressingViolating a rule or boundary
sinning · misstep · stumbling · backsliding · falling · wayward · wrongdoing · trespass
Travel without fixed purpose
- meanderTo travel without direction
- rambleMove or speak without direction
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- driftGradual movement, no direction
rove · amble · saunter · stroll · traipse · perambulate · nomadic · vagabond
Got away from confinement
- looseNot firmly secured
- feralWild after domestication
- runawayOne who flees
- unpennedReleased from enclosure
wandering · roaming · free-range · unfenced · untethered · fugitive · bolted · at-large
Deceptive rule-breaking
- unfaithfulBetraying a partner's trust
- adulteryMarried person's sexual betrayal
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- betrayalBreaking of trust
two-timing · philandering · disloyalty · extramarital · cuckoldry · paramour · mistress · homewrecker
disoriented
Lacking sense of direction
- lostUnable to navigate
- off-courseDeviating from intended path
- misguidedBased on poor judgment
bewildered · confused · directionless · adrift · missing · vanished · wayward · gone · untraceable · disappeared
diverging
Separating from a common point
- departingIn process of leaving
- veeringChanging direction suddenly
- digressingDeparting from subject
deviating · diverting · swerving · drifting · aberrant · tangential · off-topic · wandering · detour · sidetracked
erring
Making mistakes
- slippingLosing footing unintentionally
- lapsingGradually ceasing to hold
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
transgressing · sinning · misstep · stumbling · backsliding · falling · wayward · wrongdoing · trespass
roam
Travel without fixed purpose
- meanderTo travel without direction
- rambleMove or speak without direction
- wanderMove without fixed direction
drift · rove · amble · saunter · stroll · traipse · perambulate · nomadic · vagabond · drifter
escaped
Got away from confinement
unpenned · wandering · roaming · free-range · unfenced · untethered · fugitive · bolted · at-large · homeless
cheating
Deceptive rule-breaking
- unfaithfulBetraying a partner's trust
- adulteryMarried person's sexual betrayal
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
betrayal · two-timing · philandering · disloyalty · extramarital · cuckoldry · paramour · mistress · homewrecker · faithless
- Herdingherding, flock, flocks, herds, shepherd
- wanderingwandering, wander, wanderer, roaming, roam
- Going astraywandering, drifting, getting lost, deviating, off course
- off targetoff target, off-target, off the mark, wide of the mark, wide
- infidelityadultery, affair, adulteress, cheating, cheater
- aimlessnessaimlessness, directionless, drifting, purposelessness, wandering
strayingreturning
Going back to origin
homing · on track · remaining · staying · navigating
strayingstaying true
Maintaining loyalty or integrity
devoted · steadfast · constant · monogamous · unwavering
strayingadhering
Remaining attached to
following · conforming · keeping the faith · complying · obeying