1
as in flowed
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
2
as in hovered
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
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drifted
Virginia was once a swing state but has drifted toward Democrats over the past few decades.
—
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But life has a way of lulling you into complacency, and over time my eyes drifted less frequently to the sky.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Warm waters fuel storms For four days, Melissa drifted over the Caribbean, its peak sustained winds averaging 50 mph.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
The coal drifted from Plumas County and into Butte County, said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire during a Placer County Board of Supervisors meeting in August.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
The transients do not seem to be particles of nuclear fallout that have drifted down onto the photographic plate either, since such particles would produce foggy, diffuse spots, not pinpoint, star-like objects.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Twice on one third-quarter Cowboys drive, Abrams-Draine drifted away from Pickens to help shadow another receiver, eventually leading to 13-yard and 17-yard grabs for Pickens.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Some from their cohort had gone before — Paul Newman in 2008, Shelley Duvall in 2024, Gene Hackman in February — while others have simply drifted from view.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Its path began in northwestern Tennessee and drifted south over the course of a year.
—Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But life has a way of lulling you into complacency, and over time my eyes drifted less frequently to the sky.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Warm waters fuel storms For four days, Melissa drifted over the Caribbean, its peak sustained winds averaging 50 mph.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
The coal drifted from Plumas County and into Butte County, said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire during a Placer County Board of Supervisors meeting in August.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
The transients do not seem to be particles of nuclear fallout that have drifted down onto the photographic plate either, since such particles would produce foggy, diffuse spots, not pinpoint, star-like objects.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Twice on one third-quarter Cowboys drive, Abrams-Draine drifted away from Pickens to help shadow another receiver, eventually leading to 13-yard and 17-yard grabs for Pickens.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Some from their cohort had gone before — Paul Newman in 2008, Shelley Duvall in 2024, Gene Hackman in February — while others have simply drifted from view.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Its path began in northwestern Tennessee and drifted south over the course of a year.
—Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifted
Verb
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The interior hasn’t been able to hold the point of attack well enough, and the linebackers haven’t flowed to the football effectively enough.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
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But the red ink flowed along with the Birch Beer.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The paradigmatic helicopter parent hovered from a distance and in most cases didn’t follow their child to college.—
Russell Shaw,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
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Kansas City's brisk temperatures hovered in the low 50s as the red-and-gold looked to extend its winning record.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even with several adults nearby, including Bethany and her cousin, Emmie quietly wandered back toward the pool.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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On one of her first days at Mira Mesa High School, then-freshman Samantha Truong wandered into the gym, looking for a CIF girls tennis championship banner hanging on a wall.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Osumi Strait transit also indicates that the Kaiyangxing sailed around three of Japan's four main islands—Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu—excluding Hokkaido.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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He was challenged by former Council Member Lisa Sanchez and Lynn Bradescu, but Hallyburton sailed to victory, garnering more than 70% of the vote.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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There are several high-profile college football coaching jobs available midway through the 2025 season — and all-time great coach Nick Saban is a popular name floated as a potential candidate.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Casten even floated using that process to check the judicial branch.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And centerfielder Andy Pages, a defensive replacement who had just entered the game for Tommy Edman, roamed wildly into left center to grab a fly ball hit by Ernie Clement.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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In the kitchen, the inspector counted 22 roach corpses, 15 of them on the floor around fryers where three survivors roamed.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dressed in an eye-catching ensemble that perfectly highlighted her bold style, Eva glided down the runway, serving face and fierce attitude.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
30 Oct. 2025
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Porter, who was wearing forest-green DaddyGoFish waders, glided into the waist-deep rapids and walked a line between them, periodically dipping small plastic bottles into the water and then depositing them into a mesh bag.—
Katie Thornton,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a stream of southern China filled with plant debris, a pinkish river creature with wrinkly lips swam through the murk, perhaps searching for a meal or a mate.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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The incident comes days after a family in Massachusetts similarly swam ashore to a nearby island off the coast of Cape Cod.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifted. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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