Synonyms of vessel

vessel

noun

ˈve-səl 

1

as in ship

a large craft for travel by water

a new ocean liner that claims to be the largest commercial vessel afloat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ship
• boat
• liner
• warship
• freighter
• steamship
• keel
• yacht
• schooner
• tanker
• barge
• steamer
• merchantman
• watercraft
• cruiser
• cutter
• containership
• lightship
• transport
• flagship
• ferryboat
• trader
• aircraft carrier
• corvette
• supertanker
• coaster
• collier
• merchant ship
• sailboat
• brig
• destroyer
• man-of-war
• ironclad
• brigantine
• bark
• caravel
• motor ship
• superliner
• icebreaker
• tramp
• ketch
• clipper
• argosy
• packet
• square-rigger
• junk
• windjammer
• tall ship
• xebec

2

as in boat

a small buoyant structure for travel on water

any vessel that is buoyant and steerable can be entered in the annual race down the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boat
• yacht
• canoe
• kayak
• watercraft
• craft
• schooner
• ferry
• taxi
• raft
• lifeboat
• barge
• cruiser
• sailboat
• cutter
• skiff
• dinghy
• pontoon
• bottom
• surfboat
• keel
• motorboat
• pinnace
• catamaran
• rowboat
• catboat
• ketch
• shallop
• powerboat
• flatboat
• shell
• dhow
• scow
• tugboat
• towboat
• outrigger
• outboard
• bateau
• tender
• longboat
• sampan
• inboard
• tug
• lighter
• riverboat
• pirogue
• scull
• houseboat
• coracle
• whaleboat
• yawl
• paddleboat
• wherry
• auxiliary
• umiak
• dory
• ferryboat
• whaler
• johnboat
• punt
• trawler
• keelboat
• workboat
• gig
• dugout
• tub
• curragh
• dink
• lugger
• launch
• pram
• gondola
• rowing boat
• jolly boat
• banker
• water taxi
• narrow boat
• hovercraft
• seiner
• piragua
• bumboat
• shrimper
• cockleshell
• hoy
• dragger
• torpedo boat
• hooker
• airboat
• hydroplane
• PT boat
• hydrofoil
• scalloper
• caïque
• gillnetter
• garvey
• coble
• assault boat
• air-cushion vehicle

3

as in bowl

a usually circular utensil for holding something (as food)

uses a large copper vessel for beating egg whites

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bowl
• dish
• plate
• tray
• cup
• saucer
• server
• platter
• casserole
• waiter
• salver
• charger

4

as in container

something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation

any watertight vessel can be used for mixing the paints

Synonyms & Similar Words

• container
• receptacle
• holder
• bag
• bin
• bottle
• box
• carrier
• tub
• basket
• cartridge
• pocket
• bowl
• crate
• sack
• trunk
• casket
• case
• jug
• locker
• basin
• carton
• pitcher
• kettle
• bucket
• pot
• jar
• cooler
• can
• keg
• pack
• vat
• pail
• kit
• hamper
• caddy
• warmer
• handbasket

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of vessel

Most vessels were flagged from Panama (7) and Liberia (6), with none from the United States. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Unmanned vessel demonstrates missile capability The demonstration was conducted under the US Navy’s Fleet Experimentation Program during RIMPAC, the world’s largest international naval exercise. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026

Booking through this system is the only mechanism that guarantees a transit date for vessels. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026