WAFT Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

waft 1 of 2

noun

Definition of waft

as in breeze

a slight or gentle movement of air wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

calm

waft

2 of 2

verb

ˈwäft

as in to hover

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a feather wafted past us and settled on the grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 waft

Noun

When the wind shifts, the smells from the warehouse waft miles away, even weeks after the fire was extinguished. — Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Spritz it in the morning and prepare for subtle, spa-like wafts of forest floor throughout the day. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026

Verb

In the corner of the mall occupied by the Cinemark Rave movie theater, the smell of butter wafted into a lobby with another dry fountain. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026 The work was a touching reminder of Winehouse’s tangible presence, wafting through the galleries. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for waft

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waft

Noun

Even by Los Angeles standards, the weather on Sunday, July 9, 2023, was almost impossibly perfect—sunshine, low 70s, and a cool breeze—as if Hollywood itself has been dropped into the fantasy world of Barbie Land.

— Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
Each one features a discreet zipper for a streamlined look, plus a wide opening that makes pillow insertion a breeze.

— Kate Boswell, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of breeze

Verb

Airline and ground personnel at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reported seeing a UFO hovering over the airport and then darting up, leaving a hole in the clouds.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Revenue collection has hovered around 17% of GDP for the last half-century (including when income-tax rates were much higher than today).

— Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of hover

Noun

The woman laughs every now and then and the man begins to almost sing between his puffs on his beedi.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
His signature silhouettes included the tricolor stay-at-home puff coat and lacy slipdresses that could be worn as eveningwear.

— Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of puff

Verb

Passengers who were set to sail on the cruise will receive a full refund and will be assisted in getting back home, according to MSC.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
The ship, which had been scheduled to sail for Haifa in Israel with 940 passengers and 597 crew on board, was being evacuated as a precaution, the coast guard added.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of sail

Noun

And on this tour, Pineda steps to the side quite a few times to grab a breath and allow Cain, drummer Deen Castronovo, and keyboardist Jason Derlatka a chance to sing a song or two.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026
In a sequence where Murakami imagines Godzilla getting revenge on the United States by attacking New York City, the monster unleashes atomic breath on Manhattan, and the action suddenly switches to slow motion.

— James Grebey, Time, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of breath

Verb

As on Does Spring Hide Its Joy, the question of who is making what sound—of what physical processes generated the music that now floats from a pair of headphones—loses its charge within a few minutes.

— Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Root beer floats from the store’s cafe will be available at a discount, and election coverage will be shown on a projection screen.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of float

Verb

But as the boat drifted nearby under a vast, cloudless sky, a pod of pink river dolphins broke the glassy, reflective surface just yards away, their rosy dorsal fins glistening in the late-afternoon sun.

— Liam Hess, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
The big rig traveling in the far right northbound lane of the highway drifted, for unknown reasons, into the right shoulder and hit both vehicles.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of drift

Verb

But the entire process is designed to keep as many of them swimming as possible.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim close to one another in a habitat at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026.

— Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of swim

Browse Nearby Words

waffling

waft

wafted

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Style

“Waft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waft. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of waft

noun

verb

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