drifter

noun

ˈdrif-tər How to pronounce drifter (audio)
Definition of drifternext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drifter Joining the crew is Nick (MacKay), desperate to provide for his young family, and Liam (Turner), a mysterious drifter eager to escape his past. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 June 2026 Nor is Liam, an itinerant drifter who juggles whatever trade is on offer but perhaps hasn’t nailed down any single one of them. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 June 2026 In a new study, University of Miami Rosenstiel School researchers found that sensors usually attached to sharks to investigate their behavior can also allow scientists to track temperature changes in parts of the oceans often inaccessible to satellites and drifters pulled by currents. — Jenny Staletovich, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026 With nothing holding her down but a dead-end job and an aging dad, a small-town Texan girl is swiftly bedazzled by a smooth criminal drifter, and hops into his car to pursue a life less ordinary. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for drifter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifter
  1. nomad
  2. wanderer
  3. traveler
  4. roamer
  5. wayfarer
Noun
  • View gallery - 7 images With its substantial size and lack of wheels or trailer, the Evergreen XL isn't a good fit for would-be nomads.
    — Adam Williams July 12, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • The titular nomad needed, perhaps, an actor with a little more mischief and roguishness to sell his transformation from conman to folk hero (Harrison Ford, 55 at the time, may have been a good alternative).
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
Definition of nomad
Noun
  • For the wanderers Saint-Tropez rewards the curious as much as the party crowd—and the best way to explore is entirely on your own terms.
    — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
  • Weston loved to ‘embed himself in different cultures’ Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, described him as an ardent protector of the environment and a wanderer who loved to travel and enjoy nature.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
Definition of wanderer
Noun
  • Readers cast 661,000 votes this year for their favorite cities, airlines, hotels and more, with editors describing the rankings as a snapshot of places resonating with travelers today.
    — Kimberly Tutuska, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
  • At the same time, the State Department has said American travelers should not go to Haiti and supported the deployment of an international task force sent to suppress gangs in Haiti.
    — Jay Weaver July 22, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of traveler
Noun
  • 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, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of roamer
Noun
  • In high school, my friends and I became subway wayfarers, traveling in search of great high-school games.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
  • The thugs would insinuate themselves into the confidence of wayfarers and, when a favorable opportunity presented itself, strangle them by throwing a handkerchief or noose around their necks.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of wayfarer

Browse Nearby Words

drifted
drifter
drifters
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifter. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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