as in nomad
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drifter
Bug, directed by David Cromer (Prayer for the French Republic), revolves around an unexpected and intense romance between a lonely waitress, played by Coon, and a mysterious drifter, played by Namir Smallwood.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Lee, older, is a menacing and opportunistic drifter.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
Warren Beatty plays McCabe, a drifter and fast-talker who falls in with, and falls in love with, Mrs. Miller (Julie Christie), a madam who offers to improve business at his low-rent brothel.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 18 July 2025
In his anger, Joe kills the drifter and disposes of the body.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drifter
Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Lee, older, is a menacing and opportunistic drifter.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
Warren Beatty plays McCabe, a drifter and fast-talker who falls in with, and falls in love with, Mrs. Miller (Julie Christie), a madam who offers to improve business at his low-rent brothel.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 18 July 2025
In his anger, Joe kills the drifter and disposes of the body.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drifter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifter
Noun
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Dreadlocked yaks were dotted around the foreground and the odd cluster of nomad tents swept by colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind.—
The Editors,
Outside,
31 Aug. 2025
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The area is home to the indigenous Sami, who were descendants of nomads who lived in North Scandinavia for thousands of years.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As a traveler, she's visited destinations such as Hawaii and Mexico, especially loving trips out in nature.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Searches for Christmas and New Year’s getaways show travelers are looking for warm international locales to escape the cold.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The weather is almost always perfect, the mountains are endlessly inviting, and state's inland gems, like the ever-popular Palm Springs, offer plenty of magic for weekend wanderers.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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Dijon’s music, perhaps as a result, bears the markings of a wanderer, a seeker, someone who’s never fit neatly into any box.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Animals that are kennel-trained will likely be pleased to be in their cozy confines and away from the bustle of vacuums, mops, and the like, but for those who are roamers, consider gating off an area for them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifter. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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