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
People drifted in and out of the museum, some clearly drawn more by the free wine and empanadas.
—
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Some of his adventures were in service to Queen Elizabeth I; others drifted closer to piracy.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Many of the hurt kids were at home when tear gas drifted in from streets where federal agents had deployed the chemical agent against crowds of protesters.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 27 May 2026
This internal vote looks less like simple sticker shock than a warning from members that CTU leadership has drifted too far from the classroom and too deep into extremist politics.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
The Mainoo who has finished 2025-26 so strongly under Carrick is a different midfielder to the one who drifted through a series of uninspiring substitute roles under his predecessor.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The first layer of pain drifted away in the breeze.
—Brian Lamar, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Taken together, these two bottles highlight how far the top of the bourbon market has drifted from everyday drinkers, even as the broader market heads toward oversupply.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Any natural satellites of Psyche could’ve been ejected from the body by ancient impacts—or might’ve even been captured from deep space by chance encounters as the asteroid drifted through the solar system.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Some of his adventures were in service to Queen Elizabeth I; others drifted closer to piracy.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Many of the hurt kids were at home when tear gas drifted in from streets where federal agents had deployed the chemical agent against crowds of protesters.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 27 May 2026
This internal vote looks less like simple sticker shock than a warning from members that CTU leadership has drifted too far from the classroom and too deep into extremist politics.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
The Mainoo who has finished 2025-26 so strongly under Carrick is a different midfielder to the one who drifted through a series of uninspiring substitute roles under his predecessor.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The first layer of pain drifted away in the breeze.
—Brian Lamar, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Taken together, these two bottles highlight how far the top of the bourbon market has drifted from everyday drinkers, even as the broader market heads toward oversupply.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Any natural satellites of Psyche could’ve been ejected from the body by ancient impacts—or might’ve even been captured from deep space by chance encounters as the asteroid drifted through the solar system.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifted
Verb
-
She was hooked up to a hemodialysis machine where her blood flowed out of her body to be purified and was then transferred back into her body where it was reabsorbed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
That same evening, when the system was most strained, a crucial lifeline of about 8,000 MW of electricity flowed in from neighboring areas.—
Sufan Jiang,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
On the post-earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris called out record gas sales as prices hovered around four-year highs on supply disruptions due to the Iran war.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
Imax’s stock is nearing $40 a share after the news broke about a potential sale, but the company hovered in the $20 range for much of 2025.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Alice tumbled down a rabbit hole; Lucy wandered through a wardrobe.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
That’s when a deer suddenly wandered inside.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Sánchez, during a mound visit in the sixth inning with Toronto down 6-0, appeared to engage with fans and wave his glove before an object sailed from the outfield and hit his right arm.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
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Where Joie De Vivre Sails Since launching in 2017, Joie De Vivre has primarily sailed the Seine from Paris to Normandy and back.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Verb
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As darkness hit, torch lamps were lit, and music floated by from a speaker system.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
While her comments this week suggested her path to the Oval Office may be narrowing, Michigan GOP strategist Jason Cabel Roe noted that Whitmer has recently been floated as a potential future president of Michigan State University, her alma mater.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Conrad Weiser was a Pennsylvania German who had roamed the frontier for decades, learning the Indian languages and befriending Indian leaders, including some who encountered Washington in Ohio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
The dinosaur roamed across what is now Montana and Wyoming, and across the western United States, which most likely looked like the Louisiana floodplain all those millions of years ago.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The flying-theater attraction has virtually glided around world locations before, but now has multiple visual stops in the USA, part of the celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
-
The gold plates effortlessly glided through both my real hair and the clip-ins, straightening them evenly without any snags.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Vanderhoof swam the man back to the dock to be reunited with his pet.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The four swam to the eastern part of the Chandeleur Islands, where they were stranded for hours as the ordeal left them tired.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drifted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifted. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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