drifting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of driftingnext
1
as in ranging

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in hovering

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Dissimilar Words

drifting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of drift
1
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily casual conversation drifting from one topic to another

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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

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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
Verb
Five people, including two children, were rescued this week in the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati after three months drifting at sea in a 20-foot skiff, authorities said. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026 Meanwhile, crash cymbals and electric guitar keep Rowland’s Carolina drawl from drifting too far into a folk sound. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026 After a decent debut in June, FedEx Freight has been drifting lower, seemingly with no end. — Kevin Stankiewicz,jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 The barreleye fish spends most of its time drifting in place, while using its large fins to maintain stability. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026 The lovely, economic scenic design by Angela Balogh Calin graciously makes room for the play’s wall-to-wall witticisms, but the house is meant to symbolize the ship of state drifting dangerously toward the rocks. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 While his district’s voting patterns changed over the last two decades, Himes said other places around the country, like pockets of New York City, are drifting leftward among a younger electorate. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026 That young Israelis are drifting right is in many ways a reflection of how Israeli society differs from other wealthy democracies. — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026 And the question, increasingly, is how to engage with Chinese capability without drifting into invisible dependence. — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifting
  1. wandering
  2. hovering
  3. flowing
  4. floating
  5. roaming
  6. rambling
  7. hanging
  8. gliding
Adjective
  • When the wandering pooch finally narrowed his territory, Packer set up a humane trap and spent several days and nights nearby, waiting for Anchovy Jack to take the bait.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The first drink at five o’clock, the sting of a wandering eye, girls commiserating in the bathroom over their relationships, the loneliness, the escapism, the hope of rekindling a love that’s nearly burned out, and the wild fun of it all.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of wandering
Adjective
  • The drones then find the best hovering altitude before each lining up to spray the fire, one after the other.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of hovering
Verb
  • Another key feature are the balconies overlooking the gently flowing Shirakawa River.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The site says consistency matters more than duration and that practitioners can work up to 1 to 2 hours a day, though even 1-minute breaks between tasks help keep energy flowing.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of flowing
Verb
  • The contracts involve subsea production systems and pipelines, a floating control unit and drilling rig services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Scientists have estimated up to around 13 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean each year, but only a fraction of has been found floating at the surface — around 250,000 tons.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of floating
Verb
  • For families Families are welcomed here with a friendly, low-key attitude that has delighted kids roaming free through the open spaces.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The department’s all-points-bulletin asking the public to report a lone and roaming ewe may not produce any sightings.
    — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of roaming
Adjective
  • The rambling, low-slung main residence was extensively renovated by the couple, who also expanded with a separate building that’s tucked up under a vast lawn.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Dylan Young and his Melbourne group fill their third album with winsome and warm tracks whose best moments combine rambling guitars with tales of bruising regret.
    — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of rambling
Adjective
  • The set of three miniature lights each features a vintage hanging-lantern design that looks straight out of a storybook and casts a warm gold glow across your collection.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of hanging
Verb
  • At times jutting outward and at others gliding along the grain of electronic texture, Chen’s voice tracks the form of the instrumentals like a sculptor working in relief.
    — James Gui, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • It is carried to high speed and altitude by a rocket booster before separating and gliding through the atmosphere toward its target.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of gliding

Browse Nearby Words

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drifting
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Cite this Entry

“Drifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifting. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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