1
as in ranging
Related Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 drifting
Adam Minter, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
By combining this information with precise motion data, the team could identify stars that once belonged to the cluster but are now drifting away.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Days are easily spent drifting between the beach, open-air restaurants, two-story gym, and the brand’s cult-favorite Cowshed spa.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026
But that’s drifting away from God.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
But some have a far lonelier existence, drifting through interstellar space without a sun to call their own.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2026
After years of drifting toward irrelevance as rivals appeared, Nissan has taken its once-groundbreaking EV and redesigned it from the ground up, transforming the Leaf from an aging hatchback into a compact crossover with the range and tech to finally feel contemporary.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
Imagine the interlocking uninsistent tunes of drifting things.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Snow rates could reach over 3 inches per hour, and winds of up to 30 mph are also expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, especially near the lake shoreline.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
While American fans still love sports, younger ones are drifting away from watching full games to consume highlights on social media, so there are reasons to doubt that an old business model based on media rights growth will remain as lucrative.
—Adam Minter, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
By combining this information with precise motion data, the team could identify stars that once belonged to the cluster but are now drifting away.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Days are easily spent drifting between the beach, open-air restaurants, two-story gym, and the brand’s cult-favorite Cowshed spa.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026
But that’s drifting away from God.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
But some have a far lonelier existence, drifting through interstellar space without a sun to call their own.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2026
After years of drifting toward irrelevance as rivals appeared, Nissan has taken its once-groundbreaking EV and redesigned it from the ground up, transforming the Leaf from an aging hatchback into a compact crossover with the range and tech to finally feel contemporary.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
Imagine the interlocking uninsistent tunes of drifting things.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Snow rates could reach over 3 inches per hour, and winds of up to 30 mph are also expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, especially near the lake shoreline.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifting
Verb
-
The pennies could start flowing again, perhaps easing a shortage in some markets, after the Federal Reserve announced an upcoming shift in the distribution system of old 1-cent coins.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Now more diners are flowing through, gazing at the handwritten menu on the wall affixed with neat strips of orange tape, or calling ahead.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The vessel is capable of station keeping and hovering.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Half of Jewish Americans ages 18-34 believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza; that percentage number is hovering in the 30s among older groups, according to a September 2025 poll by the Washington Post.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The human brain is highly susceptible to often unproductive mind-wandering, and modern technology has only made the problem worse.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The cafe is known for its panoramic view of small planes taking off or landing but also for past concerns about customers wandering off the driveway into the path of taxiing planes.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Afternoons here are deliciously drowsy, spent dozing in the shade, gently parting calm sea water, or gliding past craggy rock formations in a little motor-boat.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
That’s why the team turned to look into how these insects transition between jumping, flapping, and gliding.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Three days later, two fishermen found a girl's body floating in a canal in the area.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Design details throughout the rental reflect its origins, including a floating stone corner fireplace and retro tiling—you’ll find plenty of color palette inspiration.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike coyotes, which often range even in daytime as pairs or small family groups, bobcats and foxes spend the winter roaming their territory in solitude.—
Susan Koch,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Detroit native also praised Rock's property, calling the home paradise as the beauty influencer lives on a lush land complete with chickens, peacocks and an assortment of roaming farm animals.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Day trips to Amalfi-style Taormina are well-advised for those who have yet to gawp at its clifftop panoramas across the Mediterranean or its film star hotels, as are jaunts to the rambling flea markets and splendidly scruffy trattorias of nearby Catania.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The throwdown came after Trump mocked Newsom in a rambling speech at the Kennedy Center by the incumbant to Republican lawmakers.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Drifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifting. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share