Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

go astray

VERB
err
Synonyms
STRONGEST
misbehave miscalculate stray stumble
STRONG
blow blunder bollix deviate fall flub goof lapse misapprehend misjudge muff offend sin snafu transgress trespass wander
WEAK
be in error be inaccurate be incorrect be mistaken drop the ball foul up go wrong louse up make a mess of mess up screw up slip up snarl up
Antonyms
STRONG
behave obey stay
WEAK
correct
VERB
fail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ignore neglect
STRONG
abort blink desert disappoint discount disregard fault forget funk miscarry omit overlook slight slip
WEAK
back out break one's word let down overpass
Antonyms
STRONG
attend pay attention regard remember respect
WEAK
accomplish achieve capture complete deliver earn finish gain merit obtain procure prosper reach succeed win
VERB
fail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break down decline fall
STRONG
abort backslide blunder deteriorate fizzle flop flounder fold founder miscarry miss slip
WEAK
back wrong horse be defeated be demoted be found lacking be in vain be ruined come to naught come to nothing fall flat fall short fall through go down go down swinging go downhill go up in smoke go wrong hit bottom hit the skids lose control lose out lose status meet with disaster miss the boat play into run aground turn out badly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend go up rise
STRONG
accomplish achieve build correct develop do well succeed
WEAK
capture complete deliver earn finish gain merit obtain procure prosper reach win
VERB
misbehave
Synonyms
STRONGEST
act up fool around trespass
STRONG
deviate fail misconduct offend roughhouse sin transgress
WEAK
be at fault be bad be dissolute be guilty be immoral be indecorous be insubordinate be mischievous be out of line be out of order be reprehensible bend the law carry on cut up do evil do wrong get into mischief go wrong make trouble sow wild oats take a wrong turn
Antonyms
STRONG
behave obey
VERB
miscarry
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abort fall through
STRONG
backslide blunder decline deteriorate fall fizzle flop flounder fold founder misfire miss
WEAK
back wrong horse be defeated be demoted be found lacking be in vain be ruined break down come to naught come to nothing fall flat fall short go down go down swinging go downhill go up in smoke go wrong hit bottom hit the skids lose control lose out lose status meet with disaster miss fire miss the boat miss the mark play into run aground turn out badly
Antonyms
STRONG
accomplish achieve ascend build correct develop do well go up improve rise succeed
VERB
ramble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
babble digress meander wander
STRONG
amplify blather chatter depart descant divagate diverge drift drivel enlarge expatiate gossip maunder prose protract stray
WEAK
be diffuse beat around bush dwell on excurse get off the subject go off on tangent go on and on harp on lose the thread rant and rave rattle on talk nonsense talk off top of head talk randomly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
go direct stay
STRONG
abridge compress condense curtail decrease lessen reduce shorten
WEAK
be direct
VERB
sin
Synonyms
STRONG
backslide cheat deviate err fall lapse misbehave misconduct offend stray transgress trespass wander
WEAK
break commandment break law commit crime do wrong fall from grace live in sin sow wild oats take the primrose path wallow in the mire
Antonyms
STRONG
behave go direct obey stay
WEAK
comply
VERB
stray
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deviate drift err meander roam swerve
STRONG
gad gallivant ramble range rove straggle traipse turn
WEAK
be abandoned be lost go all over the map go amiss lose one's way wander away wander off
Antonyms
STRONG
be direct
WEAK
go direct remain stay
VERB
wander
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ramble stray veer
STRONG
babble depart deviate divagate diverge err rave shift swerve
WEAK
get off the track get sidetracked go off on a tangent lose one's way lose train of thought talk nonsense
Antonyms
STRONGEST
go direct stay

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If the digging phase is where ideas are found, it is also where many people go astray.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

There’s no space to go astray; their energy is concentrated.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2024

Some good news about China's relations with the other world superpower would not go astray.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2023

It’s just that I go astray here and there.”

From New York Times • Oct. 18, 2023

He stretched out his hand and found another hand with two rings on the same finger about to go astray in the darkness.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez