DRIFT Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'drift' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of drift are current , tendency , tenor , and trend . While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse. // the drift of the population away from large cities // got the drift of her argument

Q: When could 'current' be used to replace 'drift'?

The words current and drift can be used in similar contexts, but current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course. // an encounter that changed the current of my life

Q: When would 'tendency' be a good substitute for 'drift'?

The words tendency and drift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force. // a general tendency toward inflation

Q: Where would 'tenor' be a reasonable alternative to 'drift'?

Although the words tenor and drift have much in common, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course. // the tenor of the times

Q: When can 'trend' be used instead of 'drift'?

The synonyms trend and drift are sometimes interchangeable, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course. // the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift 1 of 2

verb

Definition of drift

as in to flow

to move or proceed smoothly and readily casual conversation drifting from one topic to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to hover

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air the boat drifted along on the current

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wander

to move about from place to place aimlessly spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash

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drift

2 of 2

noun

ˈdrift

as in mound

a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) deep drifts of snow blocked our driveway

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in tide

a prevailing or general movement or inclination the steady drift of the population away from large cities

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in sense

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word drift different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of drift are current, tendency, tenor, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities

got the drift of her argument

When could current be used to replace drift?

The words current and drift can be used in similar contexts, but current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When would tendency be a good substitute for drift?

The words tendency and drift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

Where would tenor be a reasonable alternative to drift?

Although the words tenor and drift have much in common, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When can trend be used instead of drift?

The synonyms trend and drift are sometimes interchangeable, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

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 drift

Verb

As the day wore on, bodies wrapped in white plastic sheets were carried from the ruins and laid in rows as smoke drifted across the shattered landscape. — Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026 Five people, including two children, were rescued this week in the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati after three months drifting at sea in a 20-foot skiff, authorities said. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Noun

Eisenkot sees the election as a test of whether Israel can preserve the democratic and national ideals of the Zionist movement or drift further from them. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 After widespread rioting at the weekend – estimated to have cost several hundred million dollars in property damage and theft – France faces a toxic mix of urban rebellion, political drift and economic crisis. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift

Verb

None of us are big drinkers, but the beauty of the surroundings inspired the good times to flow, and, well, so did the wine.

— Claudia Laroye, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
The film follows those who profited from the huge sums that flowed from across Japan into the radiation clean-up of the Tohoku region.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of flow

Verb

Airline and ground personnel at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reported seeing a UFO hovering over the airport and then darting up, leaving a hole in the clouds.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Revenue collection has hovered around 17% of GDP for the last half-century (including when income-tax rates were much higher than today).

— Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of hover

Verb

Lewa is teeming with reticulated giraffe, black and white rhino, Grevy’s zebra, leopard, cheetah, and lion, while elephants regularly wander through Sirikoi’s backyard.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Nov. 2026
Ahead of Halloween, the farm can easily see more than a thousand people a day stop by to pick up a pumpkin or wander through their massive corn maze.

— Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of wander

Noun

On a brisk October morning, a coyote ventured onto a mound of dirt in Agoura Hills and inadvertently became a pioneer.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Surrounding this former Franciscan convent were orchards and open fields and Native American burial mounds.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of mound

Noun

Much of the underlying tide of Tuesday’s elections stemmed from Americans’ growing frustration with the massive wealth and power being accrued by billionaires, of which Musk is the most notable example.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026
Polls have consistently shown Raman is heavily favored by younger voters, who tend to vote later than older people and whose late-arriving ballots are considered likely to turn the tide in her favor.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of tide

Noun

Art—in the broadest sense—has been enlisted to this aim in the region at least once before, namely in the construction of hundreds of new churches during the spiritual low point of the immediate postwar period.

— Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
But cancer, a spinal issue, and three surgeries in three years changed my body and my sense of balance.

— Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of sense

Verb

At times jutting outward and at others gliding along the grain of electronic texture, Chen’s voice tracks the form of the instrumentals like a sculptor working in relief.

— James Gui, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
It is carried to high speed and altitude by a rocket booster before separating and gliding through the atmosphere toward its target.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of glide

Verb

As on Does Spring Hide Its Joy, the question of who is making what sound—of what physical processes generated the music that now floats from a pair of headphones—loses its charge within a few minutes.

— Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Root beer floats from the store’s cafe will be available at a discount, and election coverage will be shown on a projection screen.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of float

Browse Nearby Words

dries up

drift

drifted

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Style

“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of drift

verb

noun

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