Synonyms of drifting

drifting 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in ranging

Related Words

• ranging
• wandering
• meandering
• rambling
• roaming
• roving
• nomadic
• ambulatory
• itinerant
• peripatetic
• vagrant
• walking
• footloose
• nomad
• wayfaring
• errant
• peregrine
• ambulant
• vagabond
• migrant
• gallivanting
• fugitive
• migratory
• perambulatory
• sauntering
• traipsing
• strolling

Dissimilar Words

• static
• stationary
• standing
• settled
• motionless
• still
• immobile
• nonmoving

2

as in hovering

Related Words

• hovering
• sailing
• hanging
• gliding
• wafting
• floating
• poised
• free-floating
• afloat
• awash
• buoyant
• floaty
• unsinkable

Dissimilar Words

• sinking
• sunk
• high and dry
• aground

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowing
• gliding
• cruising
• sailing
• sliding
• slipping
• rolling
• flying
• sweeping
• brushing
• racing
• coasting
• speeding
• streaming
• bowling
• rushing
• skimming
• breezing
• whisking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggling
• floundering
• stumbling
• trudging
• shuffling
• limping
• plodding
• lumbering
• laboring
• stamping
• stomping
• tramping
• toiling
• shambling
• stumping

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

• hovering
• floating
• sailing
• swimming
• gliding
• riding
• bobbing
• wafting
• hanging
• dangling
• poising
• suspending
• buoying
• rafting
• ballooning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settling
• sinking
• plunging
• diving
• lunging
• dipping
• submerging
• immersing
• submersing

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

• wandering
• roaming
• floating
• cruising
• strolling
• meandering
• ranging
• roving
• knocking (about)
• rambling
• traipsing
• gallivanting
• batting
• sauntering
• ambling
• gadding (about)
• mooching
• maundering
• kicking around
• dawdling
• straying
• moping
• straggling
• tramping
• milling (about or around)
• hoboing
• vagabonding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drifting

Verb

The nor'easter is weakening and drifting on Monday slowly northeast from Long Island, New York, to Massachusetts, into the Gulf of Maine by Tuesday. — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Leaders should notice who is drifting to the edges, hold check-ins that go beyond tasks, design meetings so that every voice can be heard and create purposeful opportunities for people to work and reflect together. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Attempt techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and body scans, box breathing, or even picturing your thoughts as clouds that are drifting away. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

The bay facing the western shore of Newfoundland is the mouth—the gaping estuary—of the Saint Lawrence, Newfoundland on the chart detached and apparently drifting out to sea. — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

By contrast, heart rate barely moved during the control trial, drifting from 85 to 80 bpm. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Yet, as with all the tour stops, the most popular and compelling element of the event was the drifting component, which attendees are welcome to experience as passengers (for an additional fee). — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026

Roger and Kate, a slowly drifting apart couple juggle work while their children Emma and Jack race between school, sports and screens. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

The coaster reaches a top speed of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, and places riders in authentic, mini-re-creations of real cars that can rotate 360 degrees to create the drifting sensation of a stunt vehicle. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026