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
Here, animals serve as vessels for our worst impulses, suffering at the point where curiosity turns to sadism, domination to cruelty, and self-interest to neglect.
—
Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Trump has sought to pressure Iran into a deal by imposing a naval blockade on its ports and vessels.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 June 2026
At the center of the pool, a semicircular structure will display the vessels, all in watery colors but handcrafted in different materials, including ceramics, paper, glass and metal.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
Buoyed in the Pacific, small sea vessels have traveled autonomously from San Diego shores to locate Chinese ghost fleets in Taiwanese waters.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Advertisement Desperate refugees risked their lives on small, unseaworthy vessels, hoping to reach the shores of neighboring Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Hong Kong.
—Elizabeth Holtzman, Time, 9 June 2026
That cost is extraordinarily cheap relative to traditional, manned military vessels.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Drinks are both intelligent and fun, served in funky vessels like cactus mugs or coupes with glass squid tentacles for stems.
—Virginia Miller, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
Cruise cancellations are relatively rare but do happen for reasons such as ship charters or when vessels need to go into dry dock for maintenance work or refurbishment.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Trump has sought to pressure Iran into a deal by imposing a naval blockade on its ports and vessels.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 June 2026
At the center of the pool, a semicircular structure will display the vessels, all in watery colors but handcrafted in different materials, including ceramics, paper, glass and metal.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
Buoyed in the Pacific, small sea vessels have traveled autonomously from San Diego shores to locate Chinese ghost fleets in Taiwanese waters.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Advertisement Desperate refugees risked their lives on small, unseaworthy vessels, hoping to reach the shores of neighboring Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Hong Kong.
—Elizabeth Holtzman, Time, 9 June 2026
That cost is extraordinarily cheap relative to traditional, manned military vessels.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Drinks are both intelligent and fun, served in funky vessels like cactus mugs or coupes with glass squid tentacles for stems.
—Virginia Miller, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
Cruise cancellations are relatively rare but do happen for reasons such as ship charters or when vessels need to go into dry dock for maintenance work or refurbishment.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vessels
Noun
-
In practical terms, according to a person familiar with the discussions surrounding the new requirement, ships may need to use armed security teams on board or equipment designed to prevent hijackings, kidnappings or robberies.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
But Shahed drones have mainly struck stationary targets such as Amazon data centers and energy facilities, sometimes hitting slow-moving commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
To get around, ranchers relied on horses, boats, and remote airstrips, and access to goods and services was limited.—
Mark Johanson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 June 2026
-
People go out in small dive boats and have a very intimate experience.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The menu includes pho with 24-hour beef broth, vermicelli bowls and small plates like Saigon crunch rolls and shrimp-avocado spring rolls.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
-
In Inglewood, Red’s Flavor Table passed out shrimp and potato breakfast bowls to guests.—
Danielle Dorsey,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Ahead, gardening experts share the best types of tomatoes to grow in pots and containers for healthy, abundant harvests all season long.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
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The smaller setups would be fantastic for take-away coffee shops, pop-up retail stores, or jewel-sized offices, while the larger options—which can be combined with other modular containers to create a truly expansive space—offer enough room to create your dream space.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
There are around $4 billion’s worth of yachts anchored in Port Hercule over the Grand Prix weekend, including Faith, owned by Aston Martin’s billionaire Canadian chairman Lawrence Stroll.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
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But nestled by the Mediterranean, surrounded by super yachts, F1’s least-good race is also its most famous and glamorous.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Attendees enjoyed classic dishes like pancit and lumpia alongside musical performances and traditional folk dances by legacy Filipino American cultural organizations from across the South Bay.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
Across eight episodes, competitors must build their own cooking stations, earn mystery ingredient baskets through physical challenges and prepare dishes over open fire while battling unpredictable weather and rugged conditions.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vessels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vessels. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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