DRIFTED Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

drifted

verb

past tense of drift

as in flowed

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hovered

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wandered

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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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 drifted Sales taxes have drifted gradually higher over multiple decades, said Loughead of the Tax Foundation. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Defeated, the dementor drifted down the aisle and out of sight. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 That same smoke drifted across the gulf where Kevin was stationed for three months. — Wuft News, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Wheelie contests, one-on-one races and freestyle trick events filled the air with engine revs and track dirt as the drivers precariously balanced, drifted and jumped the 10,000 pound vehicles. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026 Young orcas then gobbled up fish fragments that drifted through the water as their elders tore into what was left of the sunfish’s corpse. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 Gorillas gathered by the gate to their den, and African elephants drifted toward their barn. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 23 July 2026 The thing the organization measures and the thing that drives results have drifted apart. — Rob Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Outside the window, a sky of uncertain color drifted over the Orkney Islands, harried by immense thunderheads soaring into the heights. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifted

Verb

After Klee announced his death on July 25, tributes flowed on social media for the little dog whose cancer diagnosis was revealed in May.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
The park itself wasn’t crowded during USA TODAY’s visit on July 30, but a steady stream of guests flowed through the front entrance, stopping only for security since there were no admission fees.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of flowed

Verb

His long-term future surely hovered as another complicating factor.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Somewhere in the heated mist hovered the howls of Albert Ayler and the clarion call of his brother Donald’s trumpet, followed by the Ornette Coleman Quartet, saluting him with joyous cacophony.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026

Definition of hovered

Verb

After running away from home, Fig wandered nearly 30 miles before someone spotted her and the sheriff's department picked her up.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
So would pianist Jake Shapiro, tickling the ivories as one wandered, to the limited extent one was allowed to wander.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Definition of wandered

Verb

The ship is regularly sailed and rowed, and on select outings visitors can even take an oar themselves—making Tønsberg one of the few places where World Cup fans can find out just how much harder the real thing is than the stadium version.

— Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 July 2026

Definition of sailed

Verb

However, Newcastle have been looking at alternatives, and Parma’s Zion Suzuki, the 23-year-old Japan international, has featured during internal discussions, while Brighton’s 25-year-old goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has also been floated.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
The team floated the idea to Nestlé’s global KitKat brand group, then gave its agency partner, VML, 24 hours to return with a concept.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Definition of floated

Verb

The animals roamed near the Amboseli National Park, which borders a farming and livestock area around 140 miles south of the capital Nairobi, according to the Associated Press.

— Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
In the Dominican Republic, officials continue to try to save species that once roamed free.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of roamed

Verb

Jones, in the first major race of his political career, faces a staunch challenge in Thompson, who has held the seat for 30 years and glided into the general election with almost 41% of the vote.

— Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Silent and purposeful, the pelicans cut through a raucous chaos of gulls at the end of the wharf and glided on into the marsh.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of glided

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“Drifted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifted. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of drifted

verb

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