There are a plethora of synonyms for the phrase "went astray." Some of the commonly used synonyms include deviated, strayed, wandered off, lost one's way, went off course, went off the beaten track, lost track, got sidetracked, and got off the track. These words can be used interchangeably depending on the context and the tone of the sentence. Whether it is a person, an animal, or an object, going astray can be a frustrating experience. However, with the right use of synonymous phrases, the expression can be appropriately modified to impact the reader's emotional experience of the situation.