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

“I didn’t want my family to go astray and be no good to the world.”

From New York Times • May 23, 2023

And when we try to draw conclusions from the facts we often go astray because we have misunderstood their significance.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

go astray

Example Sentences

Related Words