1
as in ships
a large craft for travel by water
a new ocean liner that claims to be the largest commercial vessel afloat
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2
as in boats
a small buoyant structure for travel on water
any vessel that is buoyant and steerable can be entered in the annual race down the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in containers
something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation
any watertight vessel can be used for mixing the paints
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vessels
The Indian ship was one of two vessels bearing that country’s flag that came under fire by the IRGC Navy on Saturday.
—
Max Rego, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump has demanded that vessels again be allowed to transit unimpeded.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump has demanded that vessels again be allowed to transit unimpeded through the waterway.
—Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
The five other vessels include the 16,000-TEU MSC Grace, the 13,102-TEU MSC Margrit XIII, the 9,200-TEU MSC Madeline, the 11,660-TEU MSC Francesca and the 6,673-TEU Epaminondas.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026
On Saturday, Iranian forces fired on commercial vessels in the Strait, which the president later said was a violation of the ceasefire.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
After Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the strait was closed again, 13 vessels turned around, according to maritime intelligence group Windward.
—Dana Karni, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Today, British military aircraft working with Norwegian and German allies leave from a base in northeastern Scotland a morning’s drive from Loch Ewe to track and intercept vessels leaving those same Russian ports.
—Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
The narrow waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil trade passes has been a key point of leverage for Iran, which militarized the Strait at the start of the war and has allowed only a small number of vessels to transit through.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 Apr. 2026
Max Rego, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump has demanded that vessels again be allowed to transit unimpeded.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump has demanded that vessels again be allowed to transit unimpeded through the waterway.
—Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
The five other vessels include the 16,000-TEU MSC Grace, the 13,102-TEU MSC Margrit XIII, the 9,200-TEU MSC Madeline, the 11,660-TEU MSC Francesca and the 6,673-TEU Epaminondas.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026
On Saturday, Iranian forces fired on commercial vessels in the Strait, which the president later said was a violation of the ceasefire.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
After Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the strait was closed again, 13 vessels turned around, according to maritime intelligence group Windward.
—Dana Karni, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Today, British military aircraft working with Norwegian and German allies leave from a base in northeastern Scotland a morning’s drive from Loch Ewe to track and intercept vessels leaving those same Russian ports.
—Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
The narrow waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil trade passes has been a key point of leverage for Iran, which militarized the Strait at the start of the war and has allowed only a small number of vessels to transit through.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vessels
Noun
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As the world awaits a resolution on the fate of the Strait of Hormuz -- one of the most vital global trade routes -- the seafarers who have been stranded for weeks aboard ships and tankers on either side of the waterway are desperate for answers.—
Desiree Adib,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Iranian media said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was bringing two ships to Iran after seizing them in the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Associated Press.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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The town, home to roughly 20,000 residents, sits near the Wisconsin border, where people can show up on their boats for waterfront dining and admire the work of the circa-1931 lift bridge, one of the few still in operation.—
Caroline Eubanks,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Each board comes with spread containers, bowls and a cheese knife.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Divide romaine, pork, cornbread croutons, and pickled onions among 4 bowls.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Choose Planters With Drainage—and Size Up When choosing containers for your city garden, experts emphasize one key design feature as the most important.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Matching containers for a cohesive look Decanting products into matching containers removes visual noise from packaging.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Or, if shopping isn’t your preferred vacation activity, take the bike to the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and traverse on Palm Beach Lake Trail, a bike- and pedestrian-friendly path that abuts the water’s edge that is lined with docked yachts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
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That is not exactly surprising, given McKeon has designed more than 200 vessels, most of them sailing yachts.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Why Lemon Is Perfect for Spring With their vibrant yellow color and bright, acidic taste, lemons are a refreshing way to transition your cooking from savory winter dishes to lighter spring meals.—
Staff Author,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2026
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Employees reportedly washed dishes, equipment and other food contact surfaces without using any sanitizer.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vessels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vessels. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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