drift 1 of 2

drift

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word drift different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of drift are current, tendency, tenor, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

When could current be used to replace drift?

The words current and drift can be used in similar contexts, but current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When would tendency be a good substitute for drift?

The words tendency and drift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

Where would tenor be a reasonable alternative to drift?

Although the words tenor and drift have much in common, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When can trend be used instead of drift?

The synonyms trend and drift are sometimes interchangeable, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drift
Verb
Every October, when Earth drifts through the dusty trail left behind by Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, the Draconids make their cosmic comeback. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 Pack ice, a type of free-floating ice that drifts on the open ocean, surrounds Antarctica. Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
Parcels can arrive damaged to some extent, or drift away and become hard to retrieve. New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2025 At the very moment predictable frameworks are becoming a competitive asset, Europe risks signalling drift. Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
  • Officials in Charleston, South Carolina, made multiple city parking garages free while urging people in low-lying areas to move their vehicles as ocean water flowed onto land.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Global governance void whilst capital flows faster than regulation.
    Sean Evins, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, Belichick’s NFL past continues to hover around this situation, from questions about his legacy to regular flare-ups involving the Patriots to suspicions within UNC’s program that some of the negative headlines have origins in New England.
    Dianna Russini, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • While Shanghai’s September highs typically hover between 80 and 90 degrees, this year saw 23 days above 95 degrees from late August through early October.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The southernmost individual on record lives in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro, just 200 kilometers from Mexico City, while the northernmost populations wander the Arctic coasts in northern Canada and Alaska.
    Ganesh Marín, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The mind could wander briefly about the Giants riding a two-game winning streak into a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Eagles, equipped to knock off their tormentors who suddenly look vulnerable.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In the seventh inning of Game 5, with Kyle Finnegan on the mound, Seattle announced Canzone to bat for Garver.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The effigy site is one of 12 mounds in a 22-acre area.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lloyd showed off his athleticism from there, returning the pick 99 yards for a turn-the-tide touchdown.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Fall in South Florida is not marked by changing leaves, but by rising tides.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Growing up, and well into my early adulthood, my grandma was my best friend—a person who fostered a sense of confidence in me, loved me unconditionally, and gave me the best taste in everything nostalgic from her younger years.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The final finished 14-14, but my abiding memory is the intoxicating swirl of noise and colour created by almost 93,000 fans, plus the sense of anticipation that accompanied the pre-match walk up Olympic Way.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lightweight yet durable enough to resist bumps while on the go, the carry-on suitcase is complete with spinner wheels and a telescopic handle to effortlessly glide through the airport.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The formula glides on with such ease, it’s basically designed for mirrorless application.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Another feature that’s worth highlighting is the 129 square-foot sleeping loft that can accommodate a bed, small nightstands, floating shelves, and even a houseplant or two.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Nonetheless, one of the members of his team tells me, Speed recently floated the idea of streaming nonstop for an entire year.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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