1
as in flows
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
1
2
as in tides
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the steady drift of the population away from large cities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drifts
Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Carlson-Wee drifts over to him.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
One notable feature is how often the stock has managed to bottom once the RSI drifts toward the midpoint of its range.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Debris drifts in and has nowhere to go.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
At the dinner table, surrounded by financiers, politicians, and tech founders, the conversation drifts casually toward breeding, inheritance, and the preservation of elite bloodlines, revealing the worldview quietly underwriting the entire power structure.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
One part will move east across the Great Plains, while the other becomes a closed system of low pressure and drifts southwest toward Baja California.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Someone drifts beyond their lane and doesn’t signal.
—Rose Evans
updated March 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Conveniently, the stands chose Bassett, who has occupied a central role for Portland but also drifts wide from time to time.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead, Zeisig treats the project like a beat tape, preferring static mats of sound and dynamically unyielding drifts over crescendoes and catharsis.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
Konrad, 24, drifts between Berlin’s techno clubs and a slow self-destruction until summoned to identify a body that may be his mother’s – a German internationalist guerrilla fighter who abandoned him when a child.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
Sunny, a Nigerian actor and family man, drifts between faith, fatigue and a desire to return to artistic expression.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Wind slabs form when strong winds create unstable snow drifts that hang over ridges.
—Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
New York City kept schools open despite angry parents trudging through snow drifts, while Philadelphia and Long Island closed as crews battle conditions.
—Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
In New York City, the storm began as light rain on March 11, before turning into heavy snow on March 12, causing heavy drifts.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Officials said recent storms have dumped fresh snow onto fragile underlying layers, while strong winds have created unstable drifts, producing hazardous conditions across the Alpine arc bordering France, Switzerland and Austria.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
Nmecha drifts wider to develop the play and ultimately, above, Leeds are left with two lively strikers attacking their deliveries.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Carlson-Wee drifts over to him.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
One notable feature is how often the stock has managed to bottom once the RSI drifts toward the midpoint of its range.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Debris drifts in and has nowhere to go.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
At the dinner table, surrounded by financiers, politicians, and tech founders, the conversation drifts casually toward breeding, inheritance, and the preservation of elite bloodlines, revealing the worldview quietly underwriting the entire power structure.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
One part will move east across the Great Plains, while the other becomes a closed system of low pressure and drifts southwest toward Baja California.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Someone drifts beyond their lane and doesn’t signal.
—Rose Evans
updated March 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Conveniently, the stands chose Bassett, who has occupied a central role for Portland but also drifts wide from time to time.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Embrace a design strategy that focuses on grouping plants in drifts or mass plantings.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead, Zeisig treats the project like a beat tape, preferring static mats of sound and dynamically unyielding drifts over crescendoes and catharsis.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
Konrad, 24, drifts between Berlin’s techno clubs and a slow self-destruction until summoned to identify a body that may be his mother’s – a German internationalist guerrilla fighter who abandoned him when a child.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
Sunny, a Nigerian actor and family man, drifts between faith, fatigue and a desire to return to artistic expression.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Wind slabs form when strong winds create unstable snow drifts that hang over ridges.
—Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
New York City kept schools open despite angry parents trudging through snow drifts, while Philadelphia and Long Island closed as crews battle conditions.
—Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
In New York City, the storm began as light rain on March 11, before turning into heavy snow on March 12, causing heavy drifts.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Officials said recent storms have dumped fresh snow onto fragile underlying layers, while strong winds have created unstable drifts, producing hazardous conditions across the Alpine arc bordering France, Switzerland and Austria.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifts
Verb
-
Roughly 20% of crude and natural gas normally flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains all but closed to oil tankers and other shipping traffic because of the war.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
An estimated 9,000 gallons reached the San Diego River, which flows past Dog Beach.—
Point Loma-Ob Monthly,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Judith’s twin brother, Hamnet (Ajani Cabey), hovers nearby, watching his sister’s suffering with growing alarm.—
Rhoda Feng,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The friction between Space Florida and NASA hovers over the federal agency’s most ambitious mission in half a century — Artemis II, slated for takeoff next month.—
Katelyn Ferral,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The next morning, Greg wanders across campus in his rumpled suit.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As the pensive Moon wanders into your vocal 3rd house, your mind buzzes with activity.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The soft glow of lanterns against ancient mounds turns a seemingly simple walk into a reflective, cinematic journey through American history.—
Rafael Peña,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Huge snow piles, huge snow mounds.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Baltic Sea lacks strong tides that could have freed the whale.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But by March 2018, the tides had clearly shifted; although Republican midterm primary voters only saw slight decreases from 2014, Democrats surged from just 10,500 votes in the 2014 governor primary to nearly 60,000, a rise that was seen down ballot as well.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To human senses, fibrous seagrass roots running through sediment can be boring.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The walk is led by a blind docent who will talk about the importance of senses in exploring nature.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As Luna glides into your amicable 7th house, your partnerships have a chance to deepen without putting anyone on the back foot, so to speak.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The easy-to-use roller design features a cooling metal applicator that gently glides across the neck's contours, massaging the lightweight formula into skin without pulling or tugging skin.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Aspiring and experienced boaters alike will congregate at the Orange County Convention Center this weekend as the Orlando Boat Show floats into Central Florida once again.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Throw something that floats and call 9-1-1.—
Sarah Linn,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifts. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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