as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 drifter
Meeting drifters and friendly folk along the way, Alvin is doggedly determined to make amends while facing ailments of his own.
—
James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
Namir Smallwood stars opposite Coon as Peter, a paranoid former soldier and mysterious drifter who meets her character Agnes, a lonely waitress.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
That’s our friend behind the counter, a drifter with an alcoholic mother, who’s a big character in the local scene.
—Francesco Pacifico, The Dial, 9 Dec. 2025
The logger and railsplitter occasionally encounters American eccentrics, like a chatty drifter prone to sporting bible verses and an old coot of a demolitions expert with a philosophical bent.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drifter
James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
Namir Smallwood stars opposite Coon as Peter, a paranoid former soldier and mysterious drifter who meets her character Agnes, a lonely waitress.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
That’s our friend behind the counter, a drifter with an alcoholic mother, who’s a big character in the local scene.
—Francesco Pacifico, The Dial, 9 Dec. 2025
The logger and railsplitter occasionally encounters American eccentrics, like a chatty drifter prone to sporting bible verses and an old coot of a demolitions expert with a philosophical bent.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drifter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifter
Noun
-
Increasingly erratic precipitation since the 1980s has forced many nomads to come in from the desert.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Another camp speculates that these forebears met human nomads on the trail of big game and started traveling with them, eventually arriving in China via Mongolia through their supporting role as war dogs.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike most comets, which originate in the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud, this icy wanderer formed around another star before drifting into our cosmic neighborhood.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Spader plays Graham, an enigmatic wanderer who inserts himself into the lives of his old friend John (Peter Gallagher), his wife Ann (Andie MacDowell) and her sister Cynthia (San Giacomo), drawing out all manner of confessions and revelations.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Home to over 120 wineries and tasting rooms, Woodinville’s location makes the property an ideal staycation for Washington state locals looking to explore the region’s excellent wines, and a luxurious getaway for travelers seeking to be wined and dined.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
All terminals remain connected past security, and travelers can access any gate from any open checkpoint, according to PHL.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Animals that are kennel-trained will likely be pleased to be in their cozy confines and away from the bustle of vacuums, mops, and the like, but for those who are roamers, consider gating off an area for them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Add in accessories like a matching leather clutch, boots, and wayfarer sunglasses to be styled to perfection.—
Ariel Bielsky,
InStyle,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Our favorite budget sunnies for all outdoor activities, the Goodr OG is a wayfarer-style frame with lenses that cannot be beat for the price.—
Will Porter,
Outside,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifter. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
