1
as in vessels
a small buoyant structure for travel on water
paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ships
a large craft for travel by water
you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in sails
to travel on water in a vessel
boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of boats
Lefteris Pitarakis, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
The aircraft's sensors scan for boats along the 350-kilometer (220-mile) stretch of sea between Libya and the Greek island of Crete and can detect activity hidden below deck.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
The couple looked mostly at pontoon boats.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But the big tip-off for me was when both boats did not leave at the same time.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
Building a successful league in Europe won’t just give them opportunities to get in on the permanent teams but could be a rising tide that lifts all European basketball boats.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
The only landing place on the island is Cala del Porto, a pleasant sandy beach where the boats from nearby Ponza dock.
—Micol Passariello, Architectural Digest, 26 Feb. 2026
Piantine says that gambling revenue has purchased many things for his department in the past like swift water rescue boats as well as a new equipment washing station.
—Christopher Derose, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Its name was inspired by the J Class 12-meter racing boats used in the America’s Cup during the early 20th century.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Many boats leaving Libya are overcrowded and barely seaworthy.
—Lefteris Pitarakis, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
The aircraft's sensors scan for boats along the 350-kilometer (220-mile) stretch of sea between Libya and the Greek island of Crete and can detect activity hidden below deck.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
The couple looked mostly at pontoon boats.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But the big tip-off for me was when both boats did not leave at the same time.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
Building a successful league in Europe won’t just give them opportunities to get in on the permanent teams but could be a rising tide that lifts all European basketball boats.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
The only landing place on the island is Cala del Porto, a pleasant sandy beach where the boats from nearby Ponza dock.
—Micol Passariello, Architectural Digest, 26 Feb. 2026
Piantine says that gambling revenue has purchased many things for his department in the past like swift water rescue boats as well as a new equipment washing station.
—Christopher Derose, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Its name was inspired by the J Class 12-meter racing boats used in the America’s Cup during the early 20th century.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade.
—Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boats
Noun
-
Richard Jones, a crude oil analyst at Energy Aspects, told CNN that Iran has boosted exports since mid-February and private refineries can still access some Iranian oil through their floating storage vessels, most of which are off Singapore.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical chokepoint for oil shipments, has effectively stalled as the threat of attacks from Iran deterred vessels from passing through the waterway.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The device could also be used to damp vibrations in aerospace vehicles, ships, and aircraft, and to provide a shield for sensitive military hardware and scientific instruments that are vulnerable to sudden shock.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The Adventure can also carry around 2,500 crew members, about 1,000 more than on the Wish class ships.—
Sarah Whitten,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That often sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver with stops such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Two examples of these itineraries are Celebrity’s transatlantic sailing from Orlando, Florida, to Southampton, England (by way of Bermuda and Lisbon), and this 23-day transpacific journey aboard Windstar Cruises, which sails from Tokyo to Vancouver.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His purchase of a second Vanquish underscores a broader trend in luxury yachting of owners returning to the same builder for multiple yachts because of strong, trusting relationships and successful collaborations.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The cruise line’s incredible sailing yachts are known for the small number of guests, ranging from about 150 to about 350.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The whippet-fast lift system got even more efficient this season with the introduction of the Explorer Gondola, the world’s speediest 10-person gondola that ferries skiers from base to peak on heated seats.—
Amy Tara Koch,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In late November, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which ferries 80% of all Kazakh oil supplies from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea, said it had been attacked twice in four days.—
Vasco Cotovio,
CNN Money,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
According to the listing, the three-bedroom cottage features nearly 400 feet of private waterways, outdoor activities like kayaks and canoes and an exercise room.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Guests will also have access to three kayaks, two canoes and an outdoor fire pit.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the face of the mounting omnicrisis, the songwriter crafts threadbare folk songs marked by exhaustion, resignation, and uncommon beauty.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Stories, songs, and crafts for toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years.—
Sarah Z. Sleeper,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The volunteer group's flights centered on spotting Cuban refugees fleeing their homeland and attempting to come to the United States, often in makeshift boats or rafts.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
People hurl wooden crates overboard, tumble off rafts, and frantically don life jackets—sometimes all at once.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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