maunder

[mawn-der] / ˈmɔn dər /

VERB

digress

Synonyms

STRONG

deviate drift ramble roam stray wander

Antonyms

STRONG

go direct stay

VERB

mumble

Synonyms

STRONG

babble drivel mouth mutter

VERB

wander

Synonyms

STRONG

babble blather drift drivel mumble mutter ramble stray

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.

“Did I mention I had children? Three. Fascinating creatures,” the marquise maunders on.

From New York Times

In elementary school, I sat in class with a book in my lap while the teacher maundered on about fractions.

From New York Times

Yesterday, I was maundering on about what might happen in the 2024 US election.

From The Guardian

Instead we get some philosophical maundering and nifty, nimble tricks.

From New York Times

This is the Beckettian strain in Scorsese: his characters are no longer tough guys, but wizened old figures maundering away to each other, immobile in wheelchairs or senior-citizen home seats, with blankets over their knees.

From The Guardian

maunder

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

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