COASTING Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

coasting

verb

present participle of coast

as in flowing

to move or proceed smoothly and readily coasting along easily in the light traffic

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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 coasting The underwater vehicle was coasting about six feet above the ocean floor, two miles deep, when a pinkish, mysterious creature swam into its camera’s sights, drawing gasps in the research vessel floating at the surface. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 The easy route for Devers would be coasting the rest of the way, chalking up this season as lost and counting down the days until the offseason. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026 Russell outclassed him for 12 rounds, dropping him in the final frame before coasting to a lopsided unanimous decision victory. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Settling the score, meanwhile, is Randy Newman, whose fourth Pixar collaboration ambles along agreeably, accompanied by drivin’ tunes performed by Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley that are perfect for coasting along those alternate routes. — Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 The days of learning a skill once and coasting on it for life are over. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 8 June 2026 Cepeda was widely expected to advance to the second round as the only leftist candidate, coasting off of the fervent support from incumbent President Gustavo Petro’s base. — Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 31 May 2026 With the Brewers coasting to a 6-0 lead in the eighth inning, the 25-year-old struck out Alec Burleson and immediately launched into a series of WWE-style, D-Generation X crotch chops. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026 Heat shield faces test With the engine relight canceled, Starship spent much of the mission coasting quietly through space before beginning its return to Earth. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coasting

Verb

As the lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital began flowing, Ramey took a deep breath, sputtered and began snoring.

— MICHAEL GRACZYK, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
The power grid automatically moves it, continuously flowing, to wherever demand is spiking, the moment it’s needed.

— Thomas Zawacki, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of flowing

Verb

In 2023, Newsom signed legislation removing California’s restrictions on cruising and stripping local governments of the ability to enact bans based on repeatedly driving through an area.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Though the culture never disappeared since the heyday of cruising in the 1980s and 1990s, interest in lowriding has surged in recent years.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of cruising

Verb

The bay facing the western shore of Newfoundland is the mouth—the gaping estuary—of the Saint Lawrence, Newfoundland on the chart detached and apparently drifting out to sea.

— Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
By contrast, heart rate barely moved during the control trial, drifting from 85 to 80 bpm.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of drifting

Verb

After sailing about half an hour, Choi’s navy yard utility boat slowed and hovered – never fully stopping as the water was far deeper than the length of the anchor.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
The Costa Cruises vessel was reportedly sailing from Naples to Sicily when the brawl erupted at sea.

— Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of sailing

Verb

JoJo, Messing and Newport quickly whipped out their phones to capture videos of the models gliding down the runway and posing right in front of them before continuing their trek around Cipriani in downtown Manhattan.

— Anika Reed, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
At times, perhaps surfing or more calmly gliding away from pressure will offer a better alternative to an all-out sprint toward the sideline.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of gliding

Browse Nearby Words

coasters

coasting

coastland

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“Coasting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coasting. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of coasting

verb

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