Synonyms of drifts

drifts 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of drift

1

as in flows

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

casual conversation drifting from one topic to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flows
• glides
• sails
• slips
• cruises
• sweeps
• streams
• slides
• rolls
• brushes
• flies
• races
• speeds
• bowls
• rushes
• breezes
• coasts
• whisks
• skims

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggles
• flounders
• stumbles
• trudges
• limps
• shuffles
• plods
• lumbers
• stamps
• stomps
• stumps
• toils
• labors
• tramps
• shambles

2

as in hovers

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air

the boat drifted along on the current

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hovers
• floats
• sails
• swims
• glides
• wafts
• rides
• hangs
• poises
• bobs
• dangles
• suspends
• buoys
• rafts
• balloons

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settles
• sinks
• plunges
• dives
• dips
• lunges
• submerges
• immerses
• submerses

3

as in wanders

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

• wanders
• roams
• floats
• strolls
• cruises
• meanders
• roves
• ranges
• traipses
• knocks (about)
• rambles
• saunters
• gallivants
• ambles
• mooches
• bats
• gads (about)
• maunders
• dawdles
• strays
• straggles
• kicks around
• mopes
• mills (about or around)
• vagabonds
• tramps
• hobos

drifts

2 of 2

noun

plural of drift

1

as in mounds

a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow)

deep drifts of snow blocked our driveway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mounds
• banks
• mountains
• tufts
• bars
• stacks
• snowdrifts
• masses
• heaps
• snowbanks
• embankments
• hills
• sandbars

2

as in tides

a prevailing or general movement or inclination

the steady drift of the population away from large cities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tides
• tendencies
• trends
• directions
• winds
• runs
• shifts
• currents
• leanings
• turns
• curves
• swings
• habits
• customs
• turnabouts
• propensities
• ways
• tenors
• countercurrents
• downsides
• upsides
• undertows
• undercurrents
• countertrends

3

as in senses

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action

you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift

Synonyms & Similar Words

• senses
• meanings
• contents
• imports
• intentions
• significances
• intents
• themes
• connotations
• messages
• definitions
• implications
• stuff
• denotations
• cues
• topics
• indications
• purports
• significations
• intimations
• natures
• suggestions
• clues
• hints
• inklings
• spirits
• essences
• souls
• burdens
• subjects
• matters
• hearts
• acceptances
• motives
• nuclei
• bottoms
• motifs
• kernels
• questions
• tenors
• points
• cores
• acceptations
• marrows
• cruxes
• nubs
• essentialities
• piths
• quicks
• gists

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drifts

Verb

Stuck together, wandering through thick green woods for days, the conversation between Sam and Paul drifts in an increasingly disturbing direction. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

But the smoke of loneliness drifts through the song’s 16 minutes, too; this is the sound of being left to sort through your tangle of feelings, of maybe not quite knowing how to do it. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026

In the absence of Angel Di Maria, who is retired from international duty, Messi drifts to the right, the space his old teammate used to occupy, the space Messi first played in as a kid coming through La Masia. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 16 July 2026

The noise of heavy machinery drifts up into the still morning air. — Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026

Light moves But the show’s action drifts beyond that focal point, up to the main plaza level, especially in its lighting. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2026

Elsewhere, the conversation drifts into questions about public-records databases, investigative reporting, grant applications, and the ways institutions classify professional expertise. — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

The most effective leaders understand that Alignment naturally drifts. — Tony Gambill, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

For fireworks, this means that visibility Friday along the coast could be impaired as the marine layer drifts in and out, but visibility will generally be much better Saturday, especially just a few miles inland. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Noun

Pay drifts again the moment reviews stop, so the companies actually narrowing the gap are the ones treating it as an ongoing practice, not a box checked once and revisited only when the numbers make headlines. — Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

As much as 58 inches of snow fell in some regions, and strong winds up to 80 mph were responsible for large snow drifts -- many over 50 feet tall. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026

The scent of fresh sourdough drifts from one room as the aroma of Korean soul food fill the air in another. — Jeff Gritchen, Oc Register, 25 June 2026

Look for compact cultivars with burgundy or deep plum foliage that contrasts with the bright flowers, or a green variety covered in drifts of white blooms. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 June 2026

November 22 – December 21 Morning drifts, evening steadies your stride. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Morning drifts, evening steadies your stride. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2026

In the distance, a man and a woman trudge through the drifts toward the apartment courtyard. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

As Mercury drifts into Cancer, start to outline your agenda for the coming year. — Usa Today, USA Today, 1 June 2026