1
as in cruising
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
Relevance
2
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
sailed through the latest assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in floating
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
a leaf sailed by, carried by the breeze
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sailing
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025
Centuries ago, a fleet of Spanish ships laden with gold, silver and jewels taken from the New World was sailing back to Spain when a hurricane wrecked the flotilla on July 31, 1715, spilling the treasures into the sea, according to the 1715 Fleet Society.
—Kate Payne, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
The first vessel is set to begin sailing in the spring of 2026.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The Penguin wasn’t sailing around on umbrellas and The Riddler wasn’t dancing around in a question mark spandex suit, for instance.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Adjective
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau might be in the cards for the most unexpected couple this year, but the new couple is sailing full steam ahead.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025
Centuries ago, a fleet of Spanish ships laden with gold, silver and jewels taken from the New World was sailing back to Spain when a hurricane wrecked the flotilla on July 31, 1715, spilling the treasures into the sea, according to the 1715 Fleet Society.
—Kate Payne, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
The first vessel is set to begin sailing in the spring of 2026.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
The Penguin wasn’t sailing around on umbrellas and The Riddler wasn’t dancing around in a question mark spandex suit, for instance.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailing
Verb
-
Others may prefer Zodiac boat cruising, helicopter rides, or submarine dives.—
Ashton Palmer,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Dozens of those over-the-top displays will be on our annual holiday lights map, which is used by individuals, bus tours, limo parties and others who have made cruising the Phoenix area in search of the biggest and brightest part of their holiday tradition.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the Chinese truly agree to keep the supply of critical minerals flowing on an ongoing basis, the world will win.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
European security sources believe a similarly opaque system, involving front companies that are little more than fake numbers and billing addresses, has been used to keep the sodium perchlorate flowing to Iran.—
Melissa Bell,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These sausage bites are the appetizer that will keep crowds hovering around the buffet table.—
Mary Alice Russell,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Disney+ churn rates had been steady at around 3-4 percent per month consistently this year, with churn rates at Hulu hovering at 4-5 percent per month.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
He was officially charged with boating under the influence, including causing the death of Mallory and seriously injuring two other passengers.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Kentucky Lake reported the most the most boating injuries in Tennessee last year with six, according to the 2024 Tennessee Boating Incident Statistical Report.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rickwood, high in the right circle spotted a wide-open Zellers gliding down the opposite side of the slot.—
Tris Wykes,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Plus, the aluminum plates coated in ceramic amp up even heat distribution, gliding through hair without snagging.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The former ocean liner, which sailed from the 1930s to the 1960s, now serves as a floating hotel and offers paranormal after-hours tours.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Oct. 2025
-
For architecture fans, the hotel can help set up journeys to pagods and temples over 700 years old; other excursions on offer include trips to floating fishing villages such as Cửa Vạn and Vung Viêng and ethical pearl cultivation.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Verb
-
The police had found evidence not only of a network ferrying cocaine from South America to European ports but also of a sophisticated money-laundering organization worth hundreds of millions of euros—an enterprise rivalling the narcotics business in its size.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
While thousands of soldiers and rescue teams search for the missing and deliver aid, helicopters are ferrying supplies to isolated zones and private construction firms are helping to reopen key roads.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailing. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share