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
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Recent Examples of drifts
Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
If Humberto drifts east and the jet stream’s influence dominates, the future Imelda could be drawn into the Southeast coast.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
The light changes but my eye drifts up to the towers of Downtown Brooklyn silhouetted by the afternoon sun.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
Described as a redemption drama, Laya follows a young woman who drifts from place to place carrying an unresolved anger from the loss of her father at a young age, until her path crosses with a lonely ex-criminal, also haunted by shadows from the past.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
On Île Sainte-Marguerite, eucalyptus drifts through pine forests.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
As Maggie’s complaint plays out — potentially derailing the careers of multiple faculty members — Alma drifts away from her husband, Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg), and her friend Kim (Chloë Sevigny), a psychiatrist on campus.
—Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
The West is now splitting apart, as its meaning drifts from one of geopolitical and ideological solidarity toward a more civilizational concept, particularly in the United States, and confidence in the transatlantic and other alliances erodes.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
The Relais & Châteaux resort offers several fishing excursions, including fly-fishing, spin casting, and drift boat fishing, which takes place on a special boat that drifts with the river’s current.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2025
But as the battle to save Ransom wages on, a mysterious cowboy drifts into town, dredging up secrets from the past.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Zero computer intervention is fun, without a doubt, but also a little nerve-racking when small drifts of gravel dot the road and undulations in the asphalt can cause momentary losses in traction.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
No Model Ts, no Chevrolet Ds, no Overland Model 90Bs, no automobiles in the thick drifts of snow on the streets.
—Beth Kephart
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Spanish drifts along the rows, a joke here, a warning there, carried in the heavy air.
—Dean Florez, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Thanks to a prescient investment in producing a promotional video for the CTR model, the world would become acquainted with Ruf through scenes of gratuitous smokey drifts on the Nurburgring, captured from a helicopter no less.
—Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2025
The hazy skies and smoky smell is back — a now-annual sign of summer — as Canadian wildfire smoke drifts into our region.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Still, Nevo's mind often drifts to the moment in Gaza when Palestinian militants detonated explosives in a home, wounding him and killing two close friends in his army unit.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
If Humberto drifts east and the jet stream’s influence dominates, the future Imelda could be drawn into the Southeast coast.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
The light changes but my eye drifts up to the towers of Downtown Brooklyn silhouetted by the afternoon sun.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
Described as a redemption drama, Laya follows a young woman who drifts from place to place carrying an unresolved anger from the loss of her father at a young age, until her path crosses with a lonely ex-criminal, also haunted by shadows from the past.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
On Île Sainte-Marguerite, eucalyptus drifts through pine forests.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
As Maggie’s complaint plays out — potentially derailing the careers of multiple faculty members — Alma drifts away from her husband, Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg), and her friend Kim (Chloë Sevigny), a psychiatrist on campus.
—Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
The West is now splitting apart, as its meaning drifts from one of geopolitical and ideological solidarity toward a more civilizational concept, particularly in the United States, and confidence in the transatlantic and other alliances erodes.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
The Relais & Châteaux resort offers several fishing excursions, including fly-fishing, spin casting, and drift boat fishing, which takes place on a special boat that drifts with the river’s current.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Brent Heath, co-owner of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, suggests planting thickly in wide drifts, even rivers.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2025
But as the battle to save Ransom wages on, a mysterious cowboy drifts into town, dredging up secrets from the past.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Zero computer intervention is fun, without a doubt, but also a little nerve-racking when small drifts of gravel dot the road and undulations in the asphalt can cause momentary losses in traction.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
No Model Ts, no Chevrolet Ds, no Overland Model 90Bs, no automobiles in the thick drifts of snow on the streets.
—Beth Kephart
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Spanish drifts along the rows, a joke here, a warning there, carried in the heavy air.
—Dean Florez, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Thanks to a prescient investment in producing a promotional video for the CTR model, the world would become acquainted with Ruf through scenes of gratuitous smokey drifts on the Nurburgring, captured from a helicopter no less.
—Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2025
The hazy skies and smoky smell is back — a now-annual sign of summer — as Canadian wildfire smoke drifts into our region.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifts
Verb
-
Air flows through modular containers filled with these coated filters.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Although SoCal Edison can prevent electrical fires by shutting off the power that flows through the lines, the utility did not turn the power off to most circuits that power Altadena.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One of the most important phenomena in high-altitude Sonoma vineyards is the inversion layer, the blanket of fog that hovers between 800 and 1,800 feet throughout many mornings of the growing season.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
28 Sep. 2025
-
No aura of ambiguity hovers over Catherine Leroy’s photographs.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The steering wanders like a distracted Labrador, the ride quality is about as refined as a pogo stick on a gravel driveway, and wind noise makes the cabin sound like you’re trapped inside a tent during a storm.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Adrian wanders off to find Alt-Adrian and discovers a new best friend.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If drainage is a problem, amend soil with compost or plant on mounds or berms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Waiting for them were mounds of zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant picked from the food bank’s farm.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This map accounts for tides, but not waves and not flooding caused by rainfall.—
William B. Davis,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
For now, the job of managing those tides belongs to Marc Winterhoff, who has been serving as interim CEO since February.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a way to indulge your senses without overspending.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In everything from gut health to the appearance of our drinks, the chemistry behind beer and wine keeps revealing how deeply these beverages connect to both our bodies and our senses.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The spacecraft ignites its onboard rocket motor, powering its own way to suborbital space, then glides back down for a runway landing here on Earth.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
There is a First World War U-boat that somehow glides from underneath Lake Michigan all the way to Croatia, commandeered by its captain, post-Armistice, for new and clandestine uses.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dunk the ends of a lock of your hair in a cup of water (or take a bath, any excuse), and see if your hair floats, sinks, or stays somewhere in the middle.—
Talia Gutierrez,
Glamour,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The living room is anchored by a fireplace; the library’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves speak to Ertegun’s love of arts and culture; an all-white kitchen has a span of butcher block counters as its only color; and the top-floor primary bedroom floats high above the landscape.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifts. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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