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

Relevance

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

Spritz it in the morning and prepare for subtle, spa-like wafts of forest floor throughout the day. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026 Nearby, the scents of carne asada and carnitas waft out of taquerias, inviting those nearby to stop in for a meal. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

Verb

Meanwhile top women’s seed Aryna Sabalenka complained when the smell of marijuana wafted from crowd to court. — Greg Cote september 6, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2026 Rarely has a film so resourcefully evoked the transportive but decidedly analog thrill of reading; rarely has the warmly musty smell of research libraries and archives somehow wafted with such sense-memory precision off a cinema screen. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for waft

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waft

Noun

Cool Pacific breezes and a variety of soils make this stretch of Northern California a perfect place to grow grapes.

— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
The Delta region, Sacramento included, can rejoice in the Delta breeze being a consistent feature through the week, offering some reprieve from the stubborn summer afternoon heat.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of breeze

Verb

Architect Ma Yansong's big, billowing building almost seems to hover around and envelop the surrounding structures, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
During Friday night's game against Wake Forest, Mensah set an ACC record with 24 straight completions and has been hovering above the 90% mark in that category for most of the season.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of hover

Noun

This floral blouse screams fall with whimsical puff sleeves, ruffle details, and, of course, rich autumnal hues.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Fleece rugbies are on offer alongside Denali full- and half-zips, and big puff is accounted for through a Pertex Nuptse.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of puff

Verb

For longtime fans of the brand, Ponant is a reliably luxe way to sail expedition-style to adventurous destinations—though as one fellow traveler and repeat guest pointed out to me, several other cruise lines now offer this once-rare combination.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
The family sailed on the Lusitania in 1914, a year before a German torpedo sank the ship and killed nearly twelve hundred people.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of sail

Noun

Heti stared at the drawing in front of her and muttered whatever under her breath.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
These comparisons are essential to Da Corte, who has a radical notion that Lichtenstein can, and should, be thought of in the same breath as the Pictures Generation.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of breath

Verb

Soon, the pincher floats free of her consciousness, briefly inhabiting the mind of Pola or Ines before flickering back into herself.

— Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
This half is the result of genetic material that can clip itself out of the DNA sequence, float off, and re-root somewhere else.

— Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of float

Verb

Unfortunately, over the decades, the program has drifted wildly off course.

— Christina Smith, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
Attempt techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and body scans, box breathing, or even picturing your thoughts as clouds that are drifting away.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of drift

Verb

Jetta was trained to swim to the pool’s edge three times a day and inhale deeply through the nebulizer, which was crafted specially for a beluga blowhole.

— Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
More energetic outdoor activities include swimming in the saltwater pool, walking or jogging on the Deck 15 track, paddle tennis, golf cages, and a mini-golf course.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of swim

Browse Nearby Words

waffling

waft

wafted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waft. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of waft

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

confabulate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes