FLOATING Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

floating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈflō-tiŋ

Definition of floating

as in afloat

riding upon the surface of a body of liquid the wreckage remained floating for hours

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

floating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of float

as in hovering

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wandering

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 floating

Adjective

Social media posts and years of reviewing cookie-cutter luxury hotels had conditioned me to equate floating breakfasts, monogrammed accessories, butler service, and aromatherapy menus as markers of a dreamy luxury vacation. — Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2024 The boat, a single motorboat, was found floating and half-submerged near the Harbor One Marina. — Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024

Verb

The Financial Times was first to report that investors were floating the $2 trillion expectation. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026 Seriously, how many different conspiracy theories are floating out there about this team right now? — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for floating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating

Adjective

Yet many of them are stuck on an exhausting financial hamster wheel, continually grinding to stay afloat.

— Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Like other groups cut off from funds, Estrella del Paso has patched together philanthropy and reserves in an attempt to stay afloat.

— Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of afloat

Verb

No one will string the words together and actually say it out loud, but as former players and Campbell tap-dance around the uncomfortable question about what’s changed, the message hovering between the lines is not difficult to read.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Average costs for the potassium-rich fruit have seen little change as of late, hovering between 65 and 67 cents over the last 12 months.

— Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of hovering

Verb

More Phillies players and staff joined them, wandering around the field and the house from the movie for the next 40 minutes.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The young mountain lion was spotted wandering along Foothill Boulevard between San Dimas Avenue and San Dimas Canyon Road in the morning, according to the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of wandering

Verb

Offensive notes Tommy DeVito settled in nicely after sailing some early throws.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
That comment followed news that the USS George Washington is now sailing to the Middle East and is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which has been at sea for some 250 days and not had a port call for more than 200.

— Alexander Smith, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of sailing

Verb

As Loui Ridi, an Ohio resident who owns one of the houses, landed in Israel, settlers were still roaming near Qusra, according to video footage taken by his brother.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
On a typical day this July, around four Roosevelt impersonators were roaming the streets, identifiable by their mustaches, stout bellies, and dispensing of homespun wisdom.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of roaming

Verb

If the object is drifting through the field of view from left to right, place it on the far left to keep it in view for as long as possible.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026
And Chiles is the most versatile — capable of drifting between edge rusher and a coverage aide.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of drifting

Verb

After 30 years of cruising, the writer considers a balcony cabin the most consistently worthwhile upgrade.

— Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
An erotic thriller that captures the dying charm of Thailand’s stand-alone cinemas which also serve as cruising sites for closeted gay men.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of cruising

Browse Nearby Words

floated

floating

floats

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Style

“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of floating

adjective

verb

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