Straggled

To stray or fall behind; to move slowly or irregularly, often after separation from a main group. It implies a lack of coordination or organization, suggesting a slower pace or a more dispersed formation. This can apply to people, animals, or even abstract concepts like thoughts or events that have become disorganized or scattered. It emphasizes a sense of trailing or lagging, potentially due to exhaustion, injury, or a deviation from the intended path. It's often associated with a lack of order or discipline, and can imply vulnerability or disadvantage. This word can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, depicting either a physical action or a metaphorical state.

Straggled meaning with examples

• The hikers, exhausted from the climb, straggled along the trail, their earlier enthusiasm waning with each step. Some stopped to catch their breath, while others simply moved at a snail's pace, no longer keeping up with the leaders. They formed a long, uneven line, a clear sign of the toll the mountain had taken on their energy. Their earlier camaraderie was beginning to fray.
• After the storm, the once-orderly flock of geese straggled in from the fields, their formations broken and scattered. They landed in a disorganized manner, honking and chirping in a confused frenzy. Clearly affected by the inclement weather, the group appeared weary and disorganized, no longer moving with their customary cohesion.
• Her thoughts began to **straggle**, becoming fragmented and difficult to follow as she tried to process the complex information. The flow of ideas broke down, and the arguments lost their structure. Each thought, once a clean link in the chain of logic, now meandered in all directions with no clear sense of purpose.
• Despite the coach's instructions to maintain a steady pace, the team began to **straggle** during the final lap of the race. Some players faltered, while other, more eager competitors moved in to steal their place. This caused the runners' coordinated team approach to give way, making the chance for a win almost nil.