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
Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, said Kyiv had informed Israeli authorities about the vessels in advance.
—
Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Since the beginning of the war, nearly 800 vessels have been stuck in a holding pattern near the passage, impacting about 20,000 mariners.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
For its new superyacht line, Numarine looked back to the classic vessels of old.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
The two leaders met on navy vessels off the coast of Newfoundland in August 1941.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Iranian officials say the country is offering to cease attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Apr. 2026
The double blockade actually creates a pretty tenuous situation because every interdiction, every warning shot, every seizure of vessels, could become a trigger for a wider relapse into conflict.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026
The Project 885 and Project 885M nuclear submarines were built with the intention to replace the earlier Oscar-class and Akula-class vessels, which had been built in the 1980s.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 3 Jan. 2025
Northwest winds of 15 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots, and waves of 5 to 8 feet are forecasted, creating hazardous conditions for small vessels.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Since the beginning of the war, nearly 800 vessels have been stuck in a holding pattern near the passage, impacting about 20,000 mariners.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
For its new superyacht line, Numarine looked back to the classic vessels of old.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
The two leaders met on navy vessels off the coast of Newfoundland in August 1941.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Iranian officials say the country is offering to cease attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Apr. 2026
The double blockade actually creates a pretty tenuous situation because every interdiction, every warning shot, every seizure of vessels, could become a trigger for a wider relapse into conflict.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026
The Project 885 and Project 885M nuclear submarines were built with the intention to replace the earlier Oscar-class and Akula-class vessels, which had been built in the 1980s.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 3 Jan. 2025
Northwest winds of 15 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots, and waves of 5 to 8 feet are forecasted, creating hazardous conditions for small vessels.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vessels
Noun
-
Despite the dramatic disruption, a small number of ships are still coming in and out of the Persian Gulf via the strait.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The two new ships represent the sixth and seventh additions to the Icon class.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Volunteers set out in small boats to make sure that the whale didn’t get stuck again.—
Jessica Camille Aguirre,
New Yorker,
2 May 2026
-
One 40-year-old based in South Africa, who requested to remain anonymous, recently splashed out on a BGX63 after owning several smaller boats in the 28–37 foot range.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Divide among 4 bowls and garnish with the toppings of your choice.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
Offering different street food options, such as skewers and noodle bowls, one of the signature items is the barbecue pork Khmer sandwich.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Drip irrigation also works well for containers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Soak cotton balls in essential oils and place them in containers throughout your yard, or use them as a spray and apply them to the foliage.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To top it off, the X-Shinobi yachts are equipped with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems, ensuring a quiet and fume-free cruising experience for guests while helping to reduce the environmental impact of marine tourism.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
-
So many of celebrity culture’s finest moments have taken place on or around yachts in recent years.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
In my world, the dirty plates should be cleared, but the actual washing of the dishes waits until everyone is finished.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
Traditional dishes are on the menu, too, along with homemade tortillas, mezcal-forward cocktails and Sunday brunch offerings, the restaurant’s website says.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vessels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vessels. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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