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Haphazard vs Stray - What's the difference?

haphazard | stray |

As adjectives the difference between haphazard and stray

is that haphazard is random; chaotic; incomplete; not thorough, constant, or consistent while stray is having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep.

As a noun stray is

any domestic animal that has an enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray.

As a verb stray is

to wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.

haphazard

English

Adjective

(-)
  • random; chaotic; incomplete; not thorough, constant, or consistent
  • Do not make such haphazard changes to the settings; instead, adjust the knobs carefully, a bit at a time.

    Antonyms

    * systematic

    stray

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any domestic animal that has an enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray.
  • (figuratively) One who is lost, either literally or metaphorically.
  • The act of wandering or going astray.
  • (historical) An area of common land or place administered for the use of general domestic animals, i.e. "the stray"
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.
  • * Denham
  • Thames among the wanton valleys strays .
  • To wander from company, or from the proper limits; to rove at large; to roam; to go astray.
  • (figurative) To wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err.
  • * November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
  • It was a derby that left Manchester United a long way back in Manchester City’s wing-mirrors and, in the worst moments, straying dangerously close to being their own worst enemy.
  • To cause to stray.
  • * 1591 , , V. i. 51:
  • Hath not else his eye / Strayed his affection in unlawful love,

    Synonyms

    * deviate

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep.
  • In the wrong place; misplaced.
  • a stray comma

    Derived terms

    * stray line * stray mark

    References

    Anagrams

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