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

The structures are wood, often colorful but always fragile, with large verandas designed to catch and route cooling breezes through the home.

— Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
The long school holiday was coming to an end, and though the sunlight still offered the brightness of summer, the breeze that blew suggested the sombre quality of autumn.

— Yasushi Inoue, New Yorker, 8 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

Common areas also include a lively lobby bar and cigar room for pours and puffs, respectively, as well as an impressive wine list with bottles sourced from all over the world.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Hannah Waddingham Waddingham brought the drama to Thursday night’s red carpet with a voluminous updo, pulling her signature blonde hair to the back of her head and adding a high puff on top.

— Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of puff

Noun

In a trial of 36 adults with above-normal systolic pressure, those who took 30 resisted breaths a day, six days a week, had a roughly 9 mm Hg drop in resting systolic pressure after six weeks.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Nov. 2026
The human characters were about to be subjected to the concussive explosion of Godzilla’s fiery breath—the actors had to play out the effects of the blast, which would later be added digitally, along with Godzilla himself.

— Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 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

After the first landing, Philae bounced up and drifted around the comet for two hours, making another bounce before Rosetta's cameras lost track of it.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 12 Nov. 2026
These techniques allow individuals to drift back and forth between delinquent and law-abiding behavior.

— Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of drift

Verb

Oftentimes, the migrants, despite growing up on an island, can’t swim.

— Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
Forecasters caution swimmers to be on alert for dangerous rip currents and only swim near a lifeguard, stay off rock jetties and heed the advice of local officials.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of waft

noun

verb

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