Synonyms of drifted

drifted

verb

past tense of drift

1

as in flowed

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

casual conversation drifting from one topic to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowed
• sailed
• glided
• slipped
• swept
• slid
• rolled
• brushed
• cruised
• flew
• raced
• sped
• rushed
• streamed
• coasted
• skimmed
• bowled
• breezed
• whisked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggled
• floundered
• stumbled
• trudged
• limped
• shuffled
• plodded
• lumbered
• stamped
• labored
• stomped
• tramped
• toiled
• stumped
• shambled

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

• hovered
• sailed
• floated
• swam
• glided
• wafted
• rode
• bobbed
• poised
• hung
• suspended
• dangled
• buoyed
• rafted
• ballooned

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settled
• sank
• plunged
• dived
• lunged
• submerged
• immersed
• dipped
• submersed

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

• wandered
• roamed
• strolled
• floated
• cruised
• meandered
• ranged
• roved
• knocked (about)
• rambled
• traipsed
• batted
• sauntered
• gallivanted
• ambled
• mooched
• maundered
• strayed
• gadded (about)
• kicked around
• dawdled
• straggled
• tramped
• moped
• hoboed
• milled (about or around)
• vagabonded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drifted

But as the boat drifted nearby under a vast, cloudless sky, a pod of pink river dolphins broke the glassy, reflective surface just yards away, their rosy dorsal fins glistening in the late-afternoon sun. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

The big rig traveling in the far right northbound lane of the highway drifted, for unknown reasons, into the right shoulder and hit both vehicles. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

But 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. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

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

The race tests whether economic populism can win back working-class voters who have drifted toward Republicans. — Justin Papp,caleigh Keating,garrett Downs,kevin Breuninger,dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Most of those are in the Atlanta suburbs — territory that has drifted decisively toward Democrats over the last decade. — David Wickert, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Revuluri said he was concerned the race had drifted away from bread-and-butter education issues amid the political noise. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Videos showed some masked protesters hurling objects at police as the tear gas drifted across the square. — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026