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
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Recent Examples of drifts
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Cafés spill into afternoon sunlight, window-shopping counts as cardio, and live music drifts out of an old pub.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
When a rogue planet drifts in front of a star, the world's gravitational field can act like a lens, amplifying the star's apparent brightness and letting astronomers infer the rogue planet's existence.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
For now, dry conditions are in store Friday as high pressure drifts east across the Florida peninsula with light westerly winds.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Where limestone bluffs rise above the East Bottoms and the steady hum of industry drifts below, this section through Kessler Park offers an escape that feels far removed from the city around it.
—Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 1 Jan. 2026
Earthstar Mountain by Hannah Cohen drifts in like a spell whispered under a tree, while Boleros Psicodélicos from Adrian Quesada and Divinations by Oracle Sisters unspool with a coherent, psychedelic glamour.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
By midday in Madrid, terraces fill up, music drifts from the bars in Malasaña, and weekends buzz with festivals.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
David Oyelowo leans into Hampton’s confidence, stubbornness, and blind spots, anchoring a show that often drifts into dream logic.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Plant Romeo™ as an accent in mixed borders or in drifts to create a unique privacy planting or hedge.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Its organization as a continuous mix, where each track flows seamlessly into the next with no single genre taking precedence, gives it a distinctly modern feel, akin to the sprawling playlists us young Heartlanders used to soundtrack our drifts growing up.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
Candle flames flicker and dance atop white tablecloths, chandeliers hang from the ceiling and some nights, the sound of live harp or piano drifts through the dining area.
—Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
Good times for someone who visited just California once prior to signing with the Ducks and was far more familiar with snow drifts than palm trees most of his life.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
Additionally, strong winds of up to 45 mph posed a threat of creating large snow drifts over roads and power outages.
—Isabella Volmert The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025
Northern Erie and Genesee Counties in New York might get up to 7 inches—with the highest snowfall likely to land south and east of the City of Buffalo and in southwest Genesee County—and 50 mph winds by Thursday afternoon, producing drifts and whiteout conditions.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
Picture guests arriving for the holidays, headlights glinting off the curve of an elegant half-moon drive as the scent of salt air drifts in from Buzzards Bay.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
So while snow drifts that mound up alongside a properly insulated house with siding shouldn't be a problem, snow against a door leading to the deck may leak.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Cafés spill into afternoon sunlight, window-shopping counts as cardio, and live music drifts out of an old pub.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
When a rogue planet drifts in front of a star, the world's gravitational field can act like a lens, amplifying the star's apparent brightness and letting astronomers infer the rogue planet's existence.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
For now, dry conditions are in store Friday as high pressure drifts east across the Florida peninsula with light westerly winds.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Where limestone bluffs rise above the East Bottoms and the steady hum of industry drifts below, this section through Kessler Park offers an escape that feels far removed from the city around it.
—Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 1 Jan. 2026
Earthstar Mountain by Hannah Cohen drifts in like a spell whispered under a tree, while Boleros Psicodélicos from Adrian Quesada and Divinations by Oracle Sisters unspool with a coherent, psychedelic glamour.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
By midday in Madrid, terraces fill up, music drifts from the bars in Malasaña, and weekends buzz with festivals.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
David Oyelowo leans into Hampton’s confidence, stubbornness, and blind spots, anchoring a show that often drifts into dream logic.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
Noun
Chicago’s 10 largest blizzards come with deep drifts of uniquely Chicago stories.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Plant Romeo™ as an accent in mixed borders or in drifts to create a unique privacy planting or hedge.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Its organization as a continuous mix, where each track flows seamlessly into the next with no single genre taking precedence, gives it a distinctly modern feel, akin to the sprawling playlists us young Heartlanders used to soundtrack our drifts growing up.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
Candle flames flicker and dance atop white tablecloths, chandeliers hang from the ceiling and some nights, the sound of live harp or piano drifts through the dining area.
—Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
Good times for someone who visited just California once prior to signing with the Ducks and was far more familiar with snow drifts than palm trees most of his life.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
Additionally, strong winds of up to 45 mph posed a threat of creating large snow drifts over roads and power outages.
—Isabella Volmert The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025
Northern Erie and Genesee Counties in New York might get up to 7 inches—with the highest snowfall likely to land south and east of the City of Buffalo and in southwest Genesee County—and 50 mph winds by Thursday afternoon, producing drifts and whiteout conditions.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
Picture guests arriving for the holidays, headlights glinting off the curve of an elegant half-moon drive as the scent of salt air drifts in from Buzzards Bay.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifts
Verb
-
Walk through the front door and the layout flows uninterrupted into multiple living areas highlighted by warm cherry wood accents, fine architectural details and an abundance of natural light.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Each actress nails the comedic timing – and the accented English that flows with the cadence of their mother tongues.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
National runner-up Houston also hovers near the top of the odds as well.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The population here hovers around 250, and there’s just one grocery store—but intrepid guests will find themselves in stunning, rugged landscapes with few people around.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park Admire the sunset on the mounds of red sand in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
-
New Yorkers had a similar mindset, taking to long, empty avenues with skiis to enjoy miniature urban slopes, whizzing past cars buried in the icy mounds.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As for makeup, the tides won’t be turning much, according to artist and brand founder Alexa Persico.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Life feels quieter here, shaped by tides and pine rockland forests.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One great way to combat this sympathetic nervous system arousal and improve your overall wellbeing is by practicing the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, said Snow, which helps center you in the present moment by focusing your attention on your five senses.—
Currie Engel,
Health,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike conventional controllers that sense only protein abundance, the Noise Controller creates a feedback loop that senses noise itself, specifically the second moment of protein levels.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The gel texture glides on smoothly, lathers into a plush foam, and rinses clean without leaving skin feeling tight.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Infused with sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and vitamin E, the formula glides onto the skin with ease.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The soft, breathable cotton blend fabric floats away from the body and can be worn both over a shirt and under a jacket.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Whereas therapy looks backward to heal, and self-help often floats in abstraction, Space of mind looks forward, quantifying how identity, beliefs, and emotions evolve over time.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifts. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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