FLOATED Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

floated

verb

past tense of float

as in hovered

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wandered

to move about from place to place aimlessly lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of floated Diversification into more reliable sectors, including tourism, has been floated as a means to bring in the hard currency needed to allow the nation more access to global markets. — Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026 After that, the video wall froze over as white mist floated above it and snowflakes fell from the ceiling. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026 Could the Tesla-SpaceX merger that Elon Musk floated this week pose antitrust problems? — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 But since SpaceX floated the idea of becoming a US carrier, T-Mobile has been downplaying satellite connectivity and even suggested working with other satellite partners. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 Lamb, who was once floated for the service’s top job, treats his current position as a kind of penance for past sins, both for himself and for his underlings. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 Eric Adams, the mayor just before Mamdani, floated a ban late in his term but the proposal went nowhere. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 Emil Heineman floated a wrist shot from the blue line, and Eklund corralled the loose puck and buried it for his second goal of the season. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 On another clear day, 50 years earlier, another balloon had floated above Charlotte. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for floated

Verb

His hands hovered waist high, eyes watching the downturning arcs of his teammates’ shots, waiting for a pass that never came.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
The national average has hovered above $4 per gallon since the middle of June.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of hovered

Verb

The descendants of the miners’ burros wandered back down from the hills to find a curious audience willing to feed them.

— Harry Bruinius, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Oct. 2026
In an office, people wandered into meetings early and talked about their weekend before anyone got to the agenda.

— Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of wandered

Verb

The Giants had a chance to take the lead after that but Dominic Zvada’s 44-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Needing 11 yards on fourth down to continue their drive and cut into a 23-7 Packers lead, Prescott narrowly avoided a sack before lofting a pass that sailed out the back of the end zone, not close to any particular Cowboys receiver.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sailed

Verb

Brothers Kike and Lucas Morano also won individual races and swam on two first place relays for the Wildcats.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
After lingering in nearby waters for hours, the shark swam beneath an outer barrier net installed on the platform that night and reentered the waterway.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of swam

Verb

Most of those are in the Atlanta suburbs — territory that has drifted decisively toward Democrats over the last decade.

— David Wickert, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Revuluri said he was concerned the race had drifted away from bread-and-butter education issues amid the political noise.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of drifted

Verb

Jackson’s blind was situated on rolling private farmland, and late that afternoon a fawn deer strolled down a mountain trail toward Jackson shortly before nightfall.

— Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2026
Moments later, a male lion strolled out of the thin trees behind me, settling by the pond for a drink.

— Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of strolled

Verb

In past reelections, Matsui has largely cruised to victories.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
They will be joined by Bishop Moore and Horizon, teams that cruised to 3-0 region final victories on Wednesday night; along with Winter Park, which lost to Orangewood but stayed alive.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of cruised

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float

floated

floating

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“Floated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floated. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of floated

verb

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