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
Relevance
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
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 boats
Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The architects William Treanor and Maurice Fatio even treated the East River as the Grand Canal, adding a private dock for residents to moor their boats.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 10 Jan. 2026
From there, prosecutors say, Wedding used boats and planes to move hundreds of kilos at a time from Colombia to Mexico.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Neither of these trends results in a tide that raises all boats.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Founded by University of Texas graduates James Howard Barnett and Dorothy May Barnett, Zilker Park Boat Rentals has been renting boats on Lady Bird (formerly Town) Lake for more than 50 years.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Of course, the committee wouldn’t normally award the prize to someone who has been blowing up small, allegedly drug-running fishing boats, killing the people in them.
—Merrill Matthews, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Mag Bay, whose principals launched Cabo Yachts back in the 1990s, was almost hidden at the show among the other high-end offshore boats.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
The West Palm Beach firm boasts of being the supplier for a company that provides teak used to build decks on Viking boats.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
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
The waterfront views steal the show, especially as boats drift by and the light starts to change.
—Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The architects William Treanor and Maurice Fatio even treated the East River as the Grand Canal, adding a private dock for residents to moor their boats.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 10 Jan. 2026
From there, prosecutors say, Wedding used boats and planes to move hundreds of kilos at a time from Colombia to Mexico.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Neither of these trends results in a tide that raises all boats.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Founded by University of Texas graduates James Howard Barnett and Dorothy May Barnett, Zilker Park Boat Rentals has been renting boats on Lady Bird (formerly Town) Lake for more than 50 years.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Of course, the committee wouldn’t normally award the prize to someone who has been blowing up small, allegedly drug-running fishing boats, killing the people in them.
—Merrill Matthews, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Mag Bay, whose principals launched Cabo Yachts back in the 1990s, was almost hidden at the show among the other high-end offshore boats.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
The West Palm Beach firm boasts of being the supplier for a company that provides teak used to build decks on Viking boats.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
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
-
These missiles are designed to threaten large surface vessels, including destroyers and aircraft carriers, at significant stand-off distances.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Danish and allied aircraft, naval vessels and ground units are expanding their presence on and around the island.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The historic waterfront stretch is constructed from 19th-century cobblestones and chock-full of cute restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops, all offering spectacular views of the Savannah River and docking cargo ships.—
Cailey Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Pink arrows represent fishing boats while green arrows represent cargo ships.—
Laura Doan,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Star Breeze sails year-round in French Polynesia, with voyages departing almost every week, according to the cruise line’s website.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Where National Geographic Endurance Sails Endurance often sails in icy waters, including those in the Arctic and around Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.—
Kristen E. Pope,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
One side of the hotel is flanked by the new D Marin Marsa Al Arab Marina, a pedestrian strip of homegrown restaurants and cafes that look out over the super yachts docked at Marsa’s marina.—
Selina Denman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, most charter yachts still follow a traditional layout with cabins of unequal size, often leading to an inconsistent guest experience that falls short of today’s expectations for equality and refinement.—
Emma Kershaw,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The fanciest, most famous restaurants are still doing mostly table service, but just about every other establishment has been conscripted into the army that ferries hot food out of professional kitchens and into American mouths 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Reunited with the men, the family crosses the Mekong in canoes to refugee camps in Thailand on a dark and rainy night.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The town has many watercraft rentals like kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Get up close with chickens and rabbits, watch calves being born in the Moo-ternity Educational Exhibit in the Kubota Ag Zone, and visit the Ag-Ventureland Kids Area, which features crafts and activity stations.—
Kari Barnett,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
-
This can be a shelf or basket with crafts, puzzles, books, or practical life activities.—
Jose Bolanos,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yet the massive Coast Guard operation to prevent Cubans, who usually arrive on homemade boats and rafts, and Haitians, usually arriving on overloaded sailboats and rustic freighters, from landing continued.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In the summer, spider plants produce small white flowers and rafts of baby spider plants on long, wiry stalks that trail from the plant.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
