Synonyms of boats

boats 1 of 2

noun

plural of boat

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

• vessels
• yachts
• canoes
• kayaks
• crafts
• rafts
• ferries
• schooners
• taxis
• lifeboats
• cruisers
• barges
• watercrafts
• sailboats
• cutters
• skiffs
• motorboats
• rowboats
• dinghies
• pontoons
• catamarans
• flatboats
• dories
• powerboats
• scows
• bateaux
• pirogues
• sampans
• ketches
• outboards
• shells
• bottoms
• dhows
• outriggers
• coracles
• punts
• houseboats
• paddleboats
• longboats
• inboards
• towboats
• pinnaces
• sculls
• shallops
• riverboats
• keelboats
• keels
• wherries
• prams
• tugboats
• yawls
• tubs
• ferryboats
• catboats
• dugouts
• surfboats
• gigs
• lighters
• tugs
• dinks
• workboats
• gondolas
• tender
• whaleboats
• trawlers
• umiaks
• auxiliaries
• seiners
• whalers
• bankers
• hoys
• rowing boats
• luggers
• hydroplanes
• gillnetters
• airboats
• hookers
• bumboats
• launches
• shrimpers
• water taxis
• johnboats
• hydrofoils
• draggers
• curraghs
• piraguas
• cobles
• torpedo boats
• PT boats
• narrow boats
• caïques
• scallopers
• jolly boats
• hovercrafts
• assault boats
• garveys
• cockleshells
• air-cushion vehicles

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

• ships
• vessels
• liners
• warships
• freighters
• yachts
• steamships
• keels
• schooners
• tankers
• steamers
• barges
• cruisers
• ferryboats
• cutters
• sailboats
• corvettes
• merchantmen
• traders
• supertankers
• merchant ships
• coasters
• aircraft carriers
• lightships
• colliers
• men-of-war
• containerships
• ironclads
• flagships
• motor ships
• transports
• destroyers
• argosies
• watercrafts
• tramps
• packets
• icebreakers
• brigs
• brigantines
• caravels
• clippers
• ketches
• superliners
• tall ships
• barks
• junk
• windjammers
• square-riggers
• xebecs

boats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boat

as in sails

to travel on water in a vessel

boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sails
• ferries
• ships (out)
• cruises
• voyages
• yachts
• canoes
• kayaks
• takes ship
• navigates
• makes sail
• coasts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of boats

Noun

The administration has released no evidence that the boats being targeted were engaged in drug trafficking. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 115 mph, downing palm trees and causing damage to boats and buildings. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

Dave McCabe aboard one of Newport Coastal Adventure’s boats, who alerted other boat operators of the rare sight. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026

The orca in the photo eventually died, but also capsized the boat, leaving the fishers to be rescued by other boats. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

There are steps everywhere, apart from the restaurant, and access on and off the boats can be a bit tricky. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

An extra-deep three-car garage provides space for boats, vehicles, recreational equipment or a workshop. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Avoid pavilions, picnic shelters, tents, car ports and boats without cabins. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Nearly an hour after Nolan was last seen, friends on one of the boats noticed its bilge pump had failed and water was rapidly filling the hull, Tyler Cox and Edward Paltzik, attorneys for the friends, told CNN. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

Down at the lake, boats just off the shore slowed to listen while swimmers took in the music from floaties. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026

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