as in breezes
a slight or gentle movement of air
wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hovers
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 wafts
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026
According to British Vogue, Kate arranged for wafts of Orange Blossom candles to fill the air of Westminster Abbey on her big day.
—Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Banana pudding wafts with the green vanilla notes of pandan.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
Losing the Great Salt Lake would therefore have dire economic consequences for the region, in addition to health threats as dust laden with heavy metals wafts off the lake bed and into neighborhoods.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Lemongrass wafts off a dish of lobster two ways.
—Restaurant Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Dec. 2025
Open the door to the Tumacacori Mesquite Sawmill gallery in the rural, rolling hills of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, an hour south of Tucson, and a soft aroma wafts out.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
The scent of shorn wood, metal and instant coffee wafts through the air.
—Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
October’s crisp weather invites a pot of simmering chili to cook slowly on the stove, filling the kitchen with warmth and wafts of smoke and spice.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
On sunny days, the ocean breeze wafts off the beach and through the loungers and cabanas set just back from the sand.
—Tim Chester, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
The sugary aroma wafts down Main Street, where artisans continue the century-old tradition of pouring, paddling, and slicing molten fudge into glossy, irresistible bricks.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Yes, everyone’s favorite subject on this very hot New York City day the trash smell wafts up to us.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
The scent of burning resin wafts through the air, and ambient music follows you around the property, matching the vibe of the day from sunrise to sunset.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026
According to British Vogue, Kate arranged for wafts of Orange Blossom candles to fill the air of Westminster Abbey on her big day.
—Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Banana pudding wafts with the green vanilla notes of pandan.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
Losing the Great Salt Lake would therefore have dire economic consequences for the region, in addition to health threats as dust laden with heavy metals wafts off the lake bed and into neighborhoods.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Lemongrass wafts off a dish of lobster two ways.
—Restaurant Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Dec. 2025
Open the door to the Tumacacori Mesquite Sawmill gallery in the rural, rolling hills of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, an hour south of Tucson, and a soft aroma wafts out.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
The scent of shorn wood, metal and instant coffee wafts through the air.
—Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
October’s crisp weather invites a pot of simmering chili to cook slowly on the stove, filling the kitchen with warmth and wafts of smoke and spice.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
From the big room beyond, where men are working with chisels and planes, wafts a powerful smell of wood glue.
—Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
On sunny days, the ocean breeze wafts off the beach and through the loungers and cabanas set just back from the sand.
—Tim Chester, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
The sugary aroma wafts down Main Street, where artisans continue the century-old tradition of pouring, paddling, and slicing molten fudge into glossy, irresistible bricks.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Yes, everyone’s favorite subject on this very hot New York City day the trash smell wafts up to us.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wafts
Noun
-
The main residence carries an old-world hacienda rhythm, with open corridors, generous gathering spaces and a central kitchen and dining area made for breezes, long lunches and slow afternoons.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Some suites have private gardens while others have ocean vistas; whimsical swings sway with the Atlantic breezes on many terraces.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Their water content hovers around 16%, and butter is made up of 1-4% vitamins, minerals, lactose and protein.—
Rosemary Trout,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
-
Mark Bezos—Jeff’s brother—hovers around the bar.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Start with the warm gougères, airy choux puffs with a molten brie center that arrive drizzled with honey and dusted with parmesan.—
Jessi Roti,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
-
On TikTok, Photon Matrix posted a video of the device killing the mosquitoes at night and leaving only micro-puffs of smoke behind; the video has been viewed more than 70 million times.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Elon Musk reportedly floats SpaceX, Tesla merger Elon Musk has reportedly discussed merging SpaceX with Tesla, a deal that would give the world’s richest person even more control over his sprawling tech empire.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
-
Connor McDavid almost floats above the ice, faster than anyone in the sport’s history.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
My itinerary with Victory – which also sails along the East Coast and in the Canadian Maritimes – lasted nine nights from Chicago to Toronto.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Before the quartet of late November and December holiday sailings begins, the ship sails an almost identical route along the Seine between March and November.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Cricket drifts far from the contemporary arts scene.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
On Sunday mornings, families gather by the docks along Lake Erie, while church music drifts across the water.—
Kiara Moore,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wafts. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
