SAILS Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

sails 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sail

as in boats

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

as in flows

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in floats

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

sails

2 of 2

noun

plural of sail

as in voyages

a journey over water in a vessel we went for a brief sail on the bay to relax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sails

Verb

Silver Cloud primarily sails the Arctic and Antarctica, with more exploratory itineraries in-between, like in the Middle East or Africa. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026 Some of my favorites are coming back too, like El Pulpo Magnifico, Duane Flatmo's fire-breathing octopus, and the Monaco, a 40-foot ship with three masts that sails across dust instead of water. — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Better yet, take a coastal cruise with Cape Ann Harbor Tours, which sails past six regional lighthouses. — Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026 Nelson’s mind quickly sails from cold floor-pragmatics to high theory. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded to the boat that sails non-stop fastest around the world. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026 As the ship sails the Antarctic Peninsula, passengers go on excursions, such as taking a Zodiac or kayaking, to view wildlife and immerse themselves in nature. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 16 June 2026 Odysseus sails closer to Scylla on the advice of Circe, who had identified Charybdis as more dangerous. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026

Noun

The view is equally entrancing in the evenings, when the water is cast in shades of gold and the sails of felucca boats trace a timeless scene on the horizon. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026 Yes, the big readout was Merck and Moderna’s cancer vaccine, and yes, the wind got a bit taken out of the presentation’s sails with the embargo break. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 27 Oct. 2026 So OpenAI decided to trim the sails, cut fat, and really focus on coding and long-horizon agentic workloads. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2026 Conveying the idea would likely involve several signs — which somewhat takes the wind out of rawdog’s superlative sails. — New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026 In polls, Chicagoans have repeatedly said higher taxes should come only after the city trims its own sails. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Five retractable, 35-meter rigid sails double as solar panels; when wind drives the ship, propellers generate electricity onboard. — Ashlea Halpern, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 One of the ships is registered to Guinea-Bissau but the other one, the Chelsea-3, is Ukrainian-owned, registered in Odesa and sails under the flag of Malta, a European Union member. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Spend your days over seafood lunches and sunset sails, or venture inland to hike to tropical waterfalls. — Cherri Briggs, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sails

Verb

Down at the lake, boats just off the shore slowed to listen while swimmers took in the music from floaties.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade.

— Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Definition of boats

Verb

Upward pressure on operational expenses, such as landing fees, gate rentals, and baggage handling charges, frequently flows into passenger ticket pricing.

— Chase Jordan Updated November 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2026
Crude oil flows through the key Strait of Hormuz waterway have largely recovered.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of flows

Verb

Maybach Ocean Club is betting that the ultimate clubhouse is one that floats, with a 508-foot superyacht serving as its ever-changing backdrop for private dinners, business meetings, wellness retreats, and cultural events.

— Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2026
Zero, Jack Skellington’s dog, floats on the side of a handbag; the Harlequin Demon is rendered with feathers and leather scales; and Skellington himself is painted as a peekaboo surprise inside a carryall.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of floats

Verb

The blockage of the strait, which normally ferries 20% of the world's oil, sent global energy prices soaring.

— Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Iran has effectively halted trade traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime trade route that ferries roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum.

— Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

Definition of ferries

Verb

Using photogammetry, a technique which renders 2D surfaces into 3D models, and game engines, Montoya directs a virtual drone that hovers over the ruins of cities and its strange, frozen residents.

— Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
As Indy hovers above us, for instance, his legs and hips subtly shift.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of hovers

Verb

Rain chances are low — 10% to 25% — as the front drifts southward during the day.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026
Around me, hands reach up timidly and then with more confidence, and then they are accompanied by applause that drifts from one side of the room to the other and back.

— Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026