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
Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
The same report notes that Hilton publicly disputes Becerra’s assertion of front-runner status by citing polls indicating a tight race, underscoring that the campaigns are aggressively contesting the narrative rather than drifting in ambiguity.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
For some, drifting along on a tube is the ultimate way to soak up the scenery, especially when water temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
The Yankees closed within two runs in the seventh when Mets rookie right fielder Carsen Benge dropped Cody Bellinger's drifting fly ball for an error that allowed Aaron Judge to score from second.
—CBS News, 16 May 2026
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
During Juneteenth weekend, the neighborhood feels less like a district and more like an open invitation — murals, pop-ups, and installations spilling into storefronts and sidewalks, with artists and visitors drifting in and out of shared space.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026
Additionally, the new hand-over-hand steering animations certainly improve the feel of driving from the in-car view if that’s your preferred perspective, and the drifting audience is sure to love that.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 May 2026
The moon spends the day drifting through the numinous and intuitive sign of Pisces, pulling our attention inward.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Verb
In another image, Brown was photographed floating underwater in a pool, her dark hair drifting across the bright blue water as sunlight reflected across the surface.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
The same report notes that Hilton publicly disputes Becerra’s assertion of front-runner status by citing polls indicating a tight race, underscoring that the campaigns are aggressively contesting the narrative rather than drifting in ambiguity.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
For some, drifting along on a tube is the ultimate way to soak up the scenery, especially when water temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
The Yankees closed within two runs in the seventh when Mets rookie right fielder Carsen Benge dropped Cody Bellinger's drifting fly ball for an error that allowed Aaron Judge to score from second.
—CBS News, 16 May 2026
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
During Juneteenth weekend, the neighborhood feels less like a district and more like an open invitation — murals, pop-ups, and installations spilling into storefronts and sidewalks, with artists and visitors drifting in and out of shared space.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026
Additionally, the new hand-over-hand steering animations certainly improve the feel of driving from the in-car view if that’s your preferred perspective, and the drifting audience is sure to love that.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 May 2026
The moon spends the day drifting through the numinous and intuitive sign of Pisces, pulling our attention inward.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifting
Adjective
-
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
-
The amphitheater’s Morton Salt birthright has creative juices flowing.—
Lisa Gutierrez
May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
More than 85% of the oil and natural gas flowing through the Strait of Hormuz goes to Asia, and many nations there have had to issue emergency energy rationing mandates.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The lobby’s circular floor plan gives the illusion of a lily pad floating atop a koi pond.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
In both Wilde’s play and Strauss’s opera, Salome is obsessed with Jokanaan (John the Baptist), who is being held as a political prisoner in a cistern, his disembodied voice floating around the stage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Woodley built Annie’s interior life largely in silence, on a replica Graceland set, wandering the rooms during lunch breaks and asking herself what a woman would actually do during two years of total isolation.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, their daughter, Poppy, 11, is wandering through fields of French lavender, armed with a walkie-talkie, keeping an eye out for snakes, searching for peacocks, and hoping to run into her grandmother, who lives on the property.—
Ingrid Abramovitch,
Architectural Digest,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Two guests are already gliding towards a nearby mangrove on paddle boards, while another group are donning snorkel gear, ready to head to a nearby reef.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Despite their max-cushioning build, these sneakers remain surprisingly lightweight, making gliding through airport terminals or museum tours a breeze.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
Verb
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From Komodo National Park To Chilean Patagonia Lamima is also sailing through Komodo National Park this summer, an Indonesian destination Lyons says is also notably on the rise.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
The area offers a clear line of sight of Space's Starbase test site (as well as the boats sailing around Port Isabel, which is nice).—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Within the past two years, there have been instances of cows roaming away from their farms.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
The city belongs to law-abiding residents, not roaming mobs looking to make a name for themselves or to contribute to the chaos or violence, and to get social media attention.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Thankfully, Babitz did exactly that — no rambling thoughts, petty accusations or amusing missives left unsaid.—
Michael Schaub,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Despite this rambling semi-introduction, Newman’s film makes quick work of all of this, recognizing that getting to the Tova-and-Cameron show (with, of course, many guest appearances by Marcellus) is the entire point of the picture.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifting. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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