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
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Many spots in Bali do these well, but The Seed fully embraces the pleasure of showering beneath open skies while warm evening air drifts through tropical greenery.
—Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026
Cricket drifts far from the contemporary arts scene.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
On Sunday mornings, families gather by the docks along Lake Erie, while church music drifts across the water.
—Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026
The real draw is the 12,000-square-foot patio, one of the city's best, which fills up on nights when the playlist drifts from Charley Crockett to Lizzo to the kind of New York hip hop that makes Boyd secretly dance at the register.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026
His desire to get forward allows for quick link-up with attacking midfielders, particularly dangerous when the speedy Nestory Irankunda drifts over to his side.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The eclipse — including both the slight penumbral (when the moon drifts into Earth's fuzzy outer shadow) and partial phases — will last 5 hours, 38 minutes.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 June 2026
That pocket of warm water then drifts eastward, weakening tropical trade winds, which has a domino-like effect on weather patterns throughout the world.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 June 2026
Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Those types of drifts rarely appear in one fell swoop.
—Polina Beletskaya, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
As Mercury drifts into Cancer, start to outline your agenda for the coming year.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Curved roof eaves meanwhile prevent eddies — swirling pockets of air — from producing more localized snow drifts.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
Other bright shades include 'Caramel', which grows in drifts of attractive orange, or vibrant, bright purple Primo® 'Wild Rose'.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
Smoke drifts from the kitchen into the living room, pollen follows people through the front door and pet dander settles into bedrooms and carpets.
—Ryan Brennan
may 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
The French Riviera, for one, is at its most compelling from the water, where the scent of citrus drifts from shore and the low buzz of beach clubs carries on the air.
—Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 16 May 2026
Creating drifts of plants will create a flight path hummingbirds can’t miss.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Verb
Romantic Venus drifts through your 12th House of Solitude and Healing, forming a sextile to radical Uranus in your 10th House of Career, so private reflection can shape bold improvements.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Many spots in Bali do these well, but The Seed fully embraces the pleasure of showering beneath open skies while warm evening air drifts through tropical greenery.
—Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026
Cricket drifts far from the contemporary arts scene.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
On Sunday mornings, families gather by the docks along Lake Erie, while church music drifts across the water.
—Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026
The real draw is the 12,000-square-foot patio, one of the city's best, which fills up on nights when the playlist drifts from Charley Crockett to Lizzo to the kind of New York hip hop that makes Boyd secretly dance at the register.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026
His desire to get forward allows for quick link-up with attacking midfielders, particularly dangerous when the speedy Nestory Irankunda drifts over to his side.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The eclipse — including both the slight penumbral (when the moon drifts into Earth's fuzzy outer shadow) and partial phases — will last 5 hours, 38 minutes.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 June 2026
That pocket of warm water then drifts eastward, weakening tropical trade winds, which has a domino-like effect on weather patterns throughout the world.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 June 2026
Noun
In the distance, a man and a woman trudge through the drifts toward the apartment courtyard.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Those types of drifts rarely appear in one fell swoop.
—Polina Beletskaya, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
As Mercury drifts into Cancer, start to outline your agenda for the coming year.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Curved roof eaves meanwhile prevent eddies — swirling pockets of air — from producing more localized snow drifts.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
Other bright shades include 'Caramel', which grows in drifts of attractive orange, or vibrant, bright purple Primo® 'Wild Rose'.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
Smoke drifts from the kitchen into the living room, pollen follows people through the front door and pet dander settles into bedrooms and carpets.
—Ryan Brennan
may 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
The French Riviera, for one, is at its most compelling from the water, where the scent of citrus drifts from shore and the low buzz of beach clubs carries on the air.
—Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 16 May 2026
Creating drifts of plants will create a flight path hummingbirds can’t miss.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifts
Verb
-
Oil futures have dropped and gas prices have eased on optimism that flows through the Strait of Hormuz will pick up now that the US-Iran agreement has been signed.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Goldman Sachs cut its oil price forecast Tuesday, projecting Brent to average $80 in late 2026 and $75 in 2027, citing a faster-than-expected recovery in Persian Gulf crude flows.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Building on a recurring motif of witches, Woods has Emily and Sylvia lift off during a thunderstorm, soaring above the city skyline in a sequence that hovers between dream and fantasy.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
Bubblegum-pink parasols frame the infinity pool, which hovers over the private sandy beach and shows off views spanning all the way to the Lérins Islands.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The lagoon, which wanders almost the entire length of the garden, adds a swath of blue to this oasis of green.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
In its most scenic moments, the train wanders along the island’s coastline and through rainforest, and sugar cane fields.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The brown seaweed has piled up along beaches throughout the region, leaving behind large mounds that many visitors say are affecting their beach experience.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
The Apalachee people, who built large ceremonial mounds that still exist, flourished here from about 1000 AD to the early 16th century, until invasion by the Spanish.—
Jeff VanderMeer,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The changing tides also come as the district faces affordability issues and access to healthcare, concerns both candidates raised in their stump speeches along with their homegrown roots.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Whatever the account, these are poems that have not simply endured time, but have mastered it, capturing it in their movements, their tides.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Matchday in Panama is a blissful assault on the senses.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
At only 20 feet high, Abrams Falls’ stature isn’t its most impressive quality; however, the sheer force of water that tumbles down it is an experience to enjoy with several senses—certainly sight, but also sound and feel too.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Intensify your eyes with the creamy, 24-Hour Waterproof Eyeliner, which glides on smooth for all-day to all-night wear.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
-
For the most part, our world glides silently through space, shielded by Earth’s thin atmosphere.—
Shawn Laatsch,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
People hold their phones up to improve their views of the parade floats on Maiden Lane and Broadway.—
Amina Kilpatrick,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
As if value just floats in thin air and evil aldermen are firing bazookas in its saintly direction.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifts. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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