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

Like the Argentinian, Mora drifts freely between the lines, demanding the ball from team-mates before driving purposefully at goal. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The roadmap looks steady while the ground truth drifts underneath it. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Still shellshocked, Anna drifts down a long corridor lit like a surreally unsettling dream to visit the medical facility’s chapel. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

From an open window one street away, ranchera music drifts through the trees. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Now, pen gripped in my teeth, Éloge du risque open in my lap, my gaze drifts a click northward. — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026

As Ari drifts through the gathering, some guests seem to disappear. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Actor Nakadai Tatsuya provides the Devil’s voice, while the camera drifts across static watercolor paintings under Fukai Kuni’s art direction. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

The topic momentarily drifts to Chuck D, who Hanna greatly admires. — Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

This makes the final month intriguing, even if some fantasy managers’ focus drifts toward football. — Greg Jewett, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

When every home needs a magazine-worthy renovation and every vacation looks like a luxury resort, our definition of what’s normal drifts upward. — Bydoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

An air quality advisory has been issued for the San Francisco Bay Area, as smoke from fires burning in the Pacific Northwest drifts into the region. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026

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

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