1
as in flowed
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Net-a-porter and Mr Porter veterans Heather Kaminetsky and Toby Bateman have assembled their teams, set their strategies and begun rewriting the sites’ music for a new generation, and for one-time fans who may have drifted away.
—
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
The Big Ten drifted from Chicago to Omaha.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Currently, two island communities north of Miami Beach are trying to tamp down the noise offshore from a boating party that drifted their way after the dredging of the nearby Haulover Sandbar several years ago.
—Douglas Hanks, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
The outer layers drifted away more gently, creating the dusty shell seen in infrared light.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Feb. 2026
By 1997’s The Cry, the first album released under his Placid Angles moniker, Beltran had drifted even further into new-age sounds, the beats dislodging themselves and seemingly hanging in mid-air.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
The man's pickup truck drifted over the centerline and struck a school bus head-on.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Well driving from Florida to New York the car still drifted right.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Word of specific cuts drifted out during the day, as when Cairo Bureau Chief Claire Parker announced on X that she had been laid off, along with all of the newspaper’s Middle East correspondents and editors.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
The Big Ten drifted from Chicago to Omaha.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Currently, two island communities north of Miami Beach are trying to tamp down the noise offshore from a boating party that drifted their way after the dredging of the nearby Haulover Sandbar several years ago.
—Douglas Hanks, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
The outer layers drifted away more gently, creating the dusty shell seen in infrared light.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Feb. 2026
By 1997’s The Cry, the first album released under his Placid Angles moniker, Beltran had drifted even further into new-age sounds, the beats dislodging themselves and seemingly hanging in mid-air.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
The man's pickup truck drifted over the centerline and struck a school bus head-on.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Well driving from Florida to New York the car still drifted right.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Word of specific cuts drifted out during the day, as when Cairo Bureau Chief Claire Parker announced on X that she had been laid off, along with all of the newspaper’s Middle East correspondents and editors.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifted
Verb
-
After a group of male models visited the competitors' apartment upon cycle 2 production relocating to Milan, Italy, for the season's back half, alcohol flowed — and, per Sullivan, so did tensions.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
-
More than 13,000 tips have flowed into the bureau.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The lead hovered around that level for the remainder of the contest before the final horn heralded the Gophers’ 20th victory of the season.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
-
As per a press release, the discovery began with a basilica, as archaeologists hovered around this construction from the 4th century.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, as the home stood unguarded, reporters, photographers and others wandered the property, walking to the front door and capturing video of blood drops along the porch.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Sun Ra’s intro wandered, appealingly arrhythmic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There were no injuries reported or marine pollution observed, and the ship safely sailed into port with the help of four tugboats, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Reddick made a huge surge with an assist from teammate Riley Herbst, made contact with Elliott that caused Elliott to crash, then sailed past to give Jordan a victory in NASCAR's biggest event of the year.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Proposals being floated by DFL senators and representatives include a bill to give Minnesotans more power to sue federal agents for constitutional violations, a local ban on masks for federal agents, and protections against immigration enforcement in locations like schools, hospitals and day cares.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Trump recently floated a new June deadline for an agreement to be made to end the war.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From an animal that once roamed across a wide swath of eastern Australia to a population small enough to fit in a single room — the collapse was staggering.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In early 2025, right-wing influencers roamed downtown Nuuk, handing out $100 bills to children and telling them to pose for cameras while wearing free MAGA swag.—
Ken Harbaugh,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sea turtles snoozed, manta rays glided, and reef fish darted by the thousands over lava pinnacles covered in corals and basket sponges.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
As the rock glided down the ice sheet, Casper and his teammates slowly started to come to grips with the reality of the situation.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Last week, a 13-year-old boy swam for hours to shore to get help for his mother and siblings after the family was swept out to sea.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Owen also swam on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.—
Todd Holcomb,
AJC.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drifted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifted. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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