SAILED Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

sailed

verb

past tense of sail

as in ferried

to travel on water in a vessel I can't sail when there's any breeze at all because I get seasick easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in flowed

to move or proceed smoothly and readily sailed through the latest assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hovered

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a leaf sailed by, carried by the breeze

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sailed The pass sailed over tight end Mason Taylor‘s head in the pouring rain and into Fitzpatrick’s arms. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 Murray sailed a throw down the left sideline in Jefferson’s direction. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 July 2026 The 43% growth sailed by the company’s guidance of 39% to 40% growth. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 30 July 2026 The ship is regularly sailed and rowed, and on select outings visitors can even take an oar themselves—making Tønsberg one of the few places where World Cup fans can find out just how much harder the real thing is than the stadium version. — Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 July 2026 Built in 1998 using traditional methods, Glad av Gillberga has sailed the North Sea, the Baltic, and even crossed the Atlantic. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 July 2026 Using only the ancient navigational methods of wayfinding, such as observing the stars and measuring wind patterns, the Hokulea sailed over 3,000 miles on its maiden voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Sears had allowed only a single and faced the minimum 13 batters when Michael Harris II tied the game with a home run that sailed just beyond the tall wall in right field with one out in the fifth. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailed

Verb

Soufflet Vigne, the French agricultural supply and winemaking service company, ferried back and forth water tanks and pumps typically used for fermentation and production to provide water sources for firefighters.

— Kate Dingwall, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Jet skis ferried survivors back to shore while people on the beach provided first aid.

— Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of ferried

Verb

After Klee announced his death on July 25, tributes flowed on social media for the little dog whose cancer diagnosis was revealed in May.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
The park itself wasn’t crowded during USA TODAY’s visit on July 30, but a steady stream of guests flowed through the front entrance, stopping only for security since there were no admission fees.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of flowed

Verb

One day in June, as temperatures hovered around 90, Pugh visited Watershed Navigation Center, a refuge run by Partnership for people without steady housing to have a meal or see a doctor.

— Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
The county’s four oldest classes, grades 9-12, hovered above 26,500 last October.

— Austin Horn August 3, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of hovered

Verb

Starz shares, which have more than doubled in 2026 to date, drifted down 2% in pre-market trading.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Penix nearly tossed another touchdown to receiver Jahan Dotson, who made the catch right along the back line but drifted out of bounds on his way down.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of drifted

Verb

The idea is floated that Alice married Hagood because her churchgoing parents would not have countenanced her going to Paris any other way; then again, photographs of him present a man of striking good looks.

— Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
In the meeting today, attendees floated the idea of a future event related to the proposal, perhaps to continue discussing it.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of floated

Verb

Over two partial days and one full day of fishing – roughly 15 hours total – the three of us boated 53 catfish up to 25 pounds.

— Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 29 Aug. 2025
Many of the 30,000 tourists last year who boated down the Paraguay River beside the Serra do Amolar, about 60 miles downriver from Porto Jofre, were guests on liveaboard fishing charters.

— Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2025

Definition of boated

Verb

Jones, in the first major race of his political career, faces a staunch challenge in Thompson, who has held the seat for 30 years and glided into the general election with almost 41% of the vote.

— Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Silent and purposeful, the pelicans cut through a raucous chaos of gulls at the end of the wharf and glided on into the marsh.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of glided

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sailboats

sailed

sailed into

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Style

“Sailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailed. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sailed

verb

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