as in breeze
a slight or gentle movement of air
wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The days get shorter, a cold chill moves through the air, string lights sparkle in your neighborhood, a faint waft of pine floats your way, and inexplicably Kevin Spacey appears to do an odd bit of press.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025
Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Several former employees described to me the sour, slightly dizzying odor that wafted from their boss as early as ten in the morning.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for waft
Noun
Artisanal, electric energy has occupied the grand bones of this intoxicating city, with young creatives animating the unbuttoned cafés and bars filling its old town’s squares—the air always hot and heavy with wafts of arancini and zucchini fritti.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The days get shorter, a cold chill moves through the air, string lights sparkle in your neighborhood, a faint waft of pine floats your way, and inexplicably Kevin Spacey appears to do an odd bit of press.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025
Verb
Temple crowds at midnight in Hong Kong Incense smoke wafted into the air at a temple in Hong Kong where people line up every year to make wishes for the new year at midnight.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Several former employees described to me the sour, slightly dizzying odor that wafted from their boss as early as ten in the morning.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for waft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waft
Noun
-
Temperatures will climb to near 60 in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon, with a pleasant breeze.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Ceiling fans and cross-breezes replace air-conditioning, reinforcing the open-air nature of the design.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There was snow and fog over the next two days, with temperatures hovering around freezing for at least 24 consecutive hours.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The Gold Lounge is where the service really shines—attentive without hovering, with staff who'll bring plates from the breakfast buffet to your table or top off your coffee without being asked.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bride wore a princess-worthy gown with dramatic puff sleeves and a 25-foot train.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The premise comes with two prime marks built-in — gambling in professional sports and puff-piece documentary profiles — plus the genre offers its own satiric opportunities.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the ball that sailed over the left-field fence at UFCU Disch-Falk Field didn’t break an extra-inning tie or complete a ninth-inning comeback.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
-
For a key car crash, for example, Kosinski really sent the car sailing off a ramp into the woods rather than create it in the computer, which Whittle said had a benefit not only in terms of image but sound.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her rambling answer includes several deep breaths and a pause that has Mike’s mom shaking her head.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Few floral scents take my breath away, but this one did.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Footage also captured a parachute deploying as at least one crew member floated toward the ground.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Drew Angerer / Getty Images file For months, school officials have floated proposals to relocate or close at least four middle schools on the Upper West Side, citing low enrollment, funding squeezes, academic performance and compliance with a 2022 law requiring class-size reductions by 2028.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Goss knows a space like this can easily drift from creative purposes.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Alexander Daniel Acevedo, 28, of Boca Raton, was driving an electric scooter east on Sandalfoot Boulevard when Adams’ Chevrolet drifted over a center turn lane and partly into the eastbound lane where Acevedo was riding the scooter, the Sheriff’s Office said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At the cottage, Shane and Ilya confess their love for one another, swim in the lake and watch the Lake Muskoka sunsets.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Radiodonts were among the largest and most fearsome animals swimming in Cambrian seas.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waft. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
