1
as in ranging
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in floating
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 wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drifting
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Honeywell shares are drifting lower after the company reaffirmed its full-year outlook and provided new guidance for Honeywell Technologies, the name of the remaining company following the separation of its aerospace business.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 8 June 2026
Peterborough United midfielder Matthew Garbett is crucial to this ploy, often drifting into wider positions or making selfless underlapping runs to help his side’s attack.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The biggest are often caught by marking them in a deep hole and then drifting a bait in front of their nose.
—Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Although Nilsson would likely disagree, her work affirms that all of us are drifting toward oblivion, with the best days of our lives like so much confetti in the wind.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Curtis has taken to social media to pay tribute to her sister in the wake of her death, sharing a meaningful memory of how her wedding to husband Christopher Guest brought the pair back together after drifting apart.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
The placement of the bite suggests the whale was likely scavenged after death, its body drifting belly-up through ancient seas.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Right now, the rings furthest from the planet are disintegrating and drifting into space.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Verb
The new Fast & Furious coaster will feature 360-degree rotating coaster vehicles designed to look like drifting race cars from the street racing film franchise that has earned $7 billion at the worldwide box office.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Honeywell shares are drifting lower after the company reaffirmed its full-year outlook and provided new guidance for Honeywell Technologies, the name of the remaining company following the separation of its aerospace business.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 8 June 2026
Peterborough United midfielder Matthew Garbett is crucial to this ploy, often drifting into wider positions or making selfless underlapping runs to help his side’s attack.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The biggest are often caught by marking them in a deep hole and then drifting a bait in front of their nose.
—Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Although Nilsson would likely disagree, her work affirms that all of us are drifting toward oblivion, with the best days of our lives like so much confetti in the wind.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Curtis has taken to social media to pay tribute to her sister in the wake of her death, sharing a meaningful memory of how her wedding to husband Christopher Guest brought the pair back together after drifting apart.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
The placement of the bite suggests the whale was likely scavenged after death, its body drifting belly-up through ancient seas.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Right now, the rings furthest from the planet are disintegrating and drifting into space.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifting
Adjective
-
Their newest roams freer musically, with an unburdened wandering feel.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
-
MacFarland did not have a wandering eye, and was not looking to leave.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
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This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her auburn hair was styled with long, flowing waves that cascaded down her shoulders with a middle part.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
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Pitch shows that some substances can appear solid in daily life while still flowing over long periods.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Pino was on another civilian’s boat, floating next to that vessel, and then got on Brutto’s boat, the footage shows.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
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The lawsuit, which was filed in a California federal district court by Joshua Davis and other attorneys from Berger Montague and Freedman Normand Friedland, is premised on ideas that have been floating around the House settlement and its implementation for some time.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Nothing but smoke and fires roaming freely, invading even our graves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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Videos went viral of bears rummaging through supermarket aisles and roaming school grounds, setting local communities on edge.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
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To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On the basketball court, Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler has carved a 14-year career by gliding through space with the melodic flow of an orchestra.—
Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
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Ice skating’s governing body is gliding into a presidential election Friday, free of the turmoil that just gripped its Olympic sibling skiing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifting. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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