as in loads
a considerable amount
the babysitter had to listen to a whole raft of rules before she was allowed to even pick up the baby
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Recent Examples of rafts
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Four river events for kayaks, rafts and stand-up paddleboards have been moved from Gore Creek in Vail to river venues that are 35-60 miles away.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
The plane’s pieces are now, in effect, life rafts (though there are some actual oversize yellow inflatable rafts aboard that will come into play).
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
The rafts have to be able to withstand exposure for 30 days, according to a code put out by the International Maritime Organization.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
About a mile from Parnell Beach, a group of men on jet skis began riding close to the Beards’ rafts at high speeds, the lawsuit said.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
The tactic has become more popular with smugglers as police on the beaches try to thwart crossings by puncturing the rafts that groups of migrants have to inflate and carry to the water.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
To keep the poly from taking on water and sinking, use pool balls and blow-up rafts to support the poly.
—Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
From then on, the storytelling goes slack and perfunctory as sharks swarm and chomp on passengers and crew clinging for dear lives on rafts or slabs of plane wreckage.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Four river events for kayaks, rafts and stand-up paddleboards have been moved from Gore Creek in Vail to river venues that are 35-60 miles away.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
The plane’s pieces are now, in effect, life rafts (though there are some actual oversize yellow inflatable rafts aboard that will come into play).
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
The rafts have to be able to withstand exposure for 30 days, according to a code put out by the International Maritime Organization.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
About a mile from Parnell Beach, a group of men on jet skis began riding close to the Beards’ rafts at high speeds, the lawsuit said.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
The tactic has become more popular with smugglers as police on the beaches try to thwart crossings by puncturing the rafts that groups of migrants have to inflate and carry to the water.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
To keep the poly from taking on water and sinking, use pool balls and blow-up rafts to support the poly.
—Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rafts
Noun
-
There are loads of under-the-radar towns along these states' coastlines that have their own unique charms and draws.—
Amy Thomas,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
-
Buckle up for loads of action and a wild ride through SoCal history and haunts.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Although Dot is not around anymore, a guest book inside the small museum is filled with names from dozens of countries.—
Chelsea Torres,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
And there are the activities, notably multiple golf courses, but also 100 acres of sporting grounds, sports courts, and an array of wellness and fitness facilities, as well as almost a dozen dining venues that offer everything from a snack to an epicurean feast.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Cut with a curved outer seam that balloons slightly through the thigh before tapering at the ankle, the shape is all about creating volume.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
29 Dec. 2025
-
The mid-rise jeans have an exaggerated barrel silhouette that balloons out at the knee and tapers into a wide-leg fit at the ankle.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Many commencement speakers are given honorary degrees, but the prestige associated with such matters has declined over the years; six-figure piles of cash surely seem more useful than an ersatz doctorate given to an accomplished alumnus or once-local homegirl.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
Most earwig problems begin outside, where damp piles of leaves, firewood or other debris create an attractive environment for the insects.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
As dust floats through the air, static electricity can attract particles of dirt, pollen, pet dander, and dust that accumulate on the fan blades over time.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
-
Trump floats a pause on the federal gas tax.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Beatbot iSkim Robotic Pool Skimmer Deal Beatbot's entry-level pool skimmer is an extremely capable machine, with a large nine-liter basket to hold tons of leaves and debris.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
19 May 2026
-
Every year, the global food industry generates millions of tons of oyster shells.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Scouts spend hundreds of days on the road each year—long drives, cheap hotels, fast food.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Cairo has leveraged the Suez Canal’s strategic location to host many subsea cables linking Europe and Asia, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually in transit and licensing fees.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Most jobs are bundles of tasks.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
My mother’s cousins and neighbors joined us; trays, coffee, and bundles of cloth—used to lay couscous grains out to dry in the sun—were passed from hand to hand.—
Boutheina Ben Salem,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rafts. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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