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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

The United States shot down three more floating objects in the following days, then announced that there was no sign that any of them were connected to China. — Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023 This tablet also comes with a full-sized floating keyboard that resembles Apple’s iPad Air and Pro Magic Keyboard. — Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023

Verb

Any mention of a three‑ or four-night sailing to someplace warm is likely to conjure up a picture of a floating keg party or an unsolicited opinion that a cruise of such brevity isn’t enough to appreciate a new corner of the world. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 15 July 2026 The legendary floating pool, built in 1966, that sits on Lake Como, with sweeping views of the water, the villa, and the gardens. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for floating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating

Adjective

These sorts of subscriptions can add up quickly for consumers, adding recurring expenses at a time when many are struggling to stay afloat.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026
Most small boats will remain afloat long enough to support passengers.

— Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Definition of afloat

Verb

After the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States collapsed last week, oil prices shot higher, rising above $85 a barrel after hovering in the low $70 range the previous few weeks.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Conditions stay moderate all year round, with temperatures generally hovering between the 50s and 70s from January through December.

— Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026

Definition of hovering

Verb

The animal dragged the bag across the course before wandering off, leaving the golfers with a story that’s sure to be a hole-in-one at the clubhouse.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Following in the wasteland-wandering footsteps of its successful Fallout series, Amazon Prime is tripling down on live-action game adaptations.

— Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

Definition of wandering

Verb

Yes, the likes of Julio Torres and Andrew Scott were casually roaming about, but even more typical was the sight of friends throughout the venue unexpectedly running into one another.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 July 2026
This is because sandboxes can become infected with fecal microbes and parasites from wild and domesticated animals—including millions of free-roaming cats.

— Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 13 July 2026

Definition of roaming

Verb

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District received a call during the week of July 13 stating that a dog had entered a body of water and was swimming.

— Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
The East Palo Alto Police Department posted a separate video from the rescue that shows the dog swimming furiously with seagulls circling overhead and firefighters scooping him out of the murky water and swaddling him in towels.

— Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of swimming

Verb

Adkins then began stabbing himself with the box cutter and drifting in and out of consciousness, the affidavit states.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
There was the part of her that was drifting, happy to lie in silk sheets and drink milk and sit with a gull on her lap, rapt, staring into eternity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Definition of drifting

Verb

Webb was cruising along until hitting Randy Arozarena and walking Josh Naylor with one out in the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
This is the cruise line’s first year cruising to Alaska, and our first time sailing with MSC.

— Susan B. Barnes, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2026

Definition of cruising

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Style

“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of floating

adjective

verb

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