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maunder

[mawn-der] / ˈmɔn dər /
VERB
digress
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONG
go direct stay


VERB
mumble
Synonyms
VERB
wander
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONG
speak clearly stay


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for maunder?
Maunder can mean to talk aimlessly or meaninglessly, as in I maundered for a minute until I regained my train of thought. It can also mean to move or act aimlessly. This sense can be literal, as in Don’t maunder through the market—watch where you’re going, or figuratively, as in Don’t just maunder through life—have a plan! Either way, it suggests directionlessness. Words that mean to talk aimlessly or meaninglessly include babble, ramble, prattle, prate, jabber, blather, and digress. Words that mean to move aimlessly include meander, wander, and drift. Some synonyms are appropriate for both senses of maunder, including meander and ramble.
Where does maunder come from?
The origin of the word maunder isn’t certain. It may come from an obsolete word meaning “to beg,” from the Latin mendīcāre. The first records of its use in English come from the early 1600s.
How do you use maunder in a sentence?
The sense of maunder meaning to talk aimlessly is more common than its movement sense, but neither one is commonly used. Here are some examples of maunder in a sentence:
  • Their favorite hobby was to maunder through the countryside until they got lost.
  • Thomas maundered on about Bigfoot and radio waves until something distracted him.
  • You don’t want to maunder through college, but you do want to allow yourself some time to discover what you’re interested in.

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.

Other astronomers commemorated with a blue plaque include Sir Arthur Eddington, who encouraged Payne-Gaposchkin in her early career, and the scientific couple, Walter and Annie Maunder.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Louis Rees-Zammit, Santiago Carreras and Santiago Socino scored for the hosts, between Jack Maunder and Ruben van Heerden Exeter tries, in a back-and-forth first half.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2022

“I am more convinced this is a Maunder Minimum star than anything else I’ve seen,” says Jennifer van Saders, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, who was not involved in the discovery.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 9, 2022

The revamped Royal Observatory has been outfitted with a new telescope named after Annie Maunder, who was one of the first female scientists to work at the observatory in Greenwich.

From Slate • Jun. 26, 2018

It is neatly labeled, "Found in Hollow Lane, May 21st, 1824, by Maunder Slugge Leslie, Esq."

From The International Monthly, Vol. II, No. I December 1, 1850 by Various




Vocabulary lists containing maunder


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