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
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
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Recent Examples of sailing
Andy Morrison, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Oil prices escalated worldwide after the start of the conflict amid Iran’s threats against the safety of ships sailing the Strait of Hormuz, which is the chokepoint that roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply flows through daily.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
But Charlotte’s late-game efforts were all for naught, with the best look in the game’s final minutes, a header by Rodolfo Aloko, sailing into the supporters’ section following a corner kick.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
Built in the Netherlands, sailing under the Liberian flag and operated by Germany’s Hammonia Reederei, the 441-foot ship docked at the Clure Public Marine Terminal to offload 33 pieces of cargo that will be transported overland to Alberta, Canada.
—Jay Gabler, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Verb
The site also features three miles of nature trails and a Treetop Discovery Tower with views of Lake Huron, the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Island, along with interpretive programming that explains how sawn lumber was rafted across behind sailing ships.
—Andy Morrison, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Oil prices escalated worldwide after the start of the conflict amid Iran’s threats against the safety of ships sailing the Strait of Hormuz, which is the chokepoint that roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply flows through daily.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
But Charlotte’s late-game efforts were all for naught, with the best look in the game’s final minutes, a header by Rodolfo Aloko, sailing into the supporters’ section following a corner kick.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
Built in the Netherlands, sailing under the Liberian flag and operated by Germany’s Hammonia Reederei, the 441-foot ship docked at the Clure Public Marine Terminal to offload 33 pieces of cargo that will be transported overland to Alberta, Canada.
—Jay Gabler, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailing
Adjective
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This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As for Mitan, the yacht will now spend seven to eight months cruising south towards Mexico, calling at multiple anchorages along the way.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
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The Gears were cruising when the league declared bankruptcy and evaporated the next November.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Zino leader is a dinosaur with long, flowing white hair.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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The mesh upper will keep air flowing through your feet throughout the day, and the slip-resistant rubber outsole will be particularly helpful on slick cobblestone streets.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In that video, the influencer appears to come across what is seemingly the carcass of an alligator floating in the water and shoots it repeatedly.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The all-villa layout of Raffles Sentosa Singapore delivers solitude in the heart of one of Southeast Asia’s busiest cities—a place where floating in one’s private pool has the potential to be the most strenuous cardio routine of the day.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Forte Yachts hopped on the boating scene only last year, as a new endeavor from the folks at West Navaltech to focus on all things refined on the water.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
15 Apr. 2026
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The most recent boating mishap occurred Saturday evening when a sailboat overturned in hazardous conditions and went onto the rocks of the jetty near the entrance.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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How Wisconsin got here Wisconsin keeps on gliding.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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With more than 200 million tons of cargo gliding across their surfaces every year, Neal writes, the Great Lakes are a place of commerce.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The notation was curiously quaint, dots and curly tails swimming along like so many tadpoles.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The person swimming in the lane next to mine was doing the breaststroke and hit me with her leg, under the lane rope, on two consecutive laps.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
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To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailing. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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