as in gypsy
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job
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Recent Examples of drifter
On April 25, 2000, Acosta, 49, was abducted by Michael Tanzi, a 23-year-old Massachusetts drifter who asked Acosta for a cigarette, punched her and threw her into her Plymouth Voyager van.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
In the short story, a drifter impersonates a missing girl to rob the girl’s family — only to realize she’s made a terrible mistake.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
Millie Bobby Brown will star as an orphaned teenager searching for her brother across a post-apocalyptic American West, joined by a loveable robot and a drifter (Chris Pratt).
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, Dickinson, Babygirl actor and a relative newcomer to A-list stardom, will debut his feature film Urchin, about a drifter (Frank Dillane) on the streets of London.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drifter
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
In the short story, a drifter impersonates a missing girl to rob the girl’s family — only to realize she’s made a terrible mistake.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
Millie Bobby Brown will star as an orphaned teenager searching for her brother across a post-apocalyptic American West, joined by a loveable robot and a drifter (Chris Pratt).
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, Dickinson, Babygirl actor and a relative newcomer to A-list stardom, will debut his feature film Urchin, about a drifter (Frank Dillane) on the streets of London.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drifter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifter
Noun
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Yet successful nomad entrepreneurs prove otherwise.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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One of the spots drawing nomads in droves is Medellín, located in Colombia’s northwest.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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High-end appliances, spa-like bathrooms, large closets, and luxurious bedding offers the modern comforts all travelers desire.—
Shannon Sharpe,
Architectural Digest,
14 May 2025
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In most places where English is not the first language, English-speaking travelers might struggle when trying to communicate with locals, which can lead to friction.—
Rocky Sharma,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifter. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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