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
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2026
They can be linked together to form rafts or floating platforms.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Diving bell spiders, for example, trap air bubbles to survive underwater, while fire ants link their water-repellent bodies together to form floating rafts during floods.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Yet the massive Coast Guard operation to prevent Cubans, who usually arrive on homemade boats and rafts, and Haitians, usually arriving on overloaded sailboats and rustic freighters, from landing continued.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
In the summer, spider plants produce small white flowers and rafts of baby spider plants on long, wiry stalks that trail from the plant.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Struggling through the jungle on foot or building rafts.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Dive and technical rescue teams, including those equipped with rafts and drones, assisted in the recovery.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 6 Jan. 2026
These like weeks long adventures, hundreds of miles, huge packs, pack rafts and bikes, and no trails and bush so thick.
—Outside Online, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
And fire ants use their waxy, water-repellent coating and textured exoskeletons to trap air; during floods, thousands cling together to make buoyant, living rafts that can survive 12 days and possibly longer.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2026
They can be linked together to form rafts or floating platforms.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Diving bell spiders, for example, trap air bubbles to survive underwater, while fire ants link their water-repellent bodies together to form floating rafts during floods.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Yet the massive Coast Guard operation to prevent Cubans, who usually arrive on homemade boats and rafts, and Haitians, usually arriving on overloaded sailboats and rustic freighters, from landing continued.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
In the summer, spider plants produce small white flowers and rafts of baby spider plants on long, wiry stalks that trail from the plant.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Struggling through the jungle on foot or building rafts.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Dive and technical rescue teams, including those equipped with rafts and drones, assisted in the recovery.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 6 Jan. 2026
These like weeks long adventures, hundreds of miles, huge packs, pack rafts and bikes, and no trails and bush so thick.
—Outside Online, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rafts
Noun
-
This approach allows buildings to balance their energy loads naturally, reducing the need for active heating and cooling systems.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Pairing him with Sama (732 yards, five touchdowns in 2025) in the running game has loads of potential.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While dozens of companies have dropped diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, Costco stood behind DEI.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Throughout the 1990s, only a dozen or so people would gather on the Old Trafford forecourt each February 6 to mark the anniversary of the Munich Air disaster.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 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
-
Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, alliances with various European powers shifted and forts rose, then fell into piles of matchsticks.—
Jeff Chu,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
That is what remains for much of the area away from the snow piles created by plows.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
McCollough’s take on a Queen Anne’s cabinet floats magically in a corner (open the doors for a surprise).—
Grace Edquist,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
-
James Provost In practical terms, this shouldn’t create any noticeable interference, given that this transmitter puts out milliwatts at most and floats miles away from the nearest receiver.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In January 2018, Cora, a team contingent, and Boston Mayor Marty Wash flew to Puerto Rico to deliver 10 tons of medical supplies, water filtration systems, other necessities, and a monetary donation.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Casey Wasserman, creator of a talent agency behind tons of A-list music artists, actors and sports legends, and Ghislaine Maxwell had a handful of flirtatious email exchanges in 2003, according to documents included in the most recent release by the DOJ.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Foro Penal estimates that hundreds of additional political prisoners still remain behind bars.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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The emails show how easily some digital media figures and companies were taken advantage of; publications that were publishing hundreds of articles a day hardly blinked when a positive article about a financier showed up, or a serious-sounding foundation official asked for an image tweak.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lo mai gai, the sticky, meaty rice bundles wrapped in lotus leaves, are fragrant and balanced, particularly a version laced with abalone that brings some welcome marine funk to the mix.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Promotions include free wings, discounted pizzas and special game-day bundles.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rafts. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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