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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
And while summer temperatures can be sizzling, consistent Atlantic Ocean breezes and reliable afternoon thunderstorms help cool things off.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Sunny skies and mild breezes are enveloping the Pharmalot campus once again.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Average annual income hovers around $58,000, reflecting a shortage of high-wage opportunities.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
Towing capacity hovers around 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg), depending on configuration.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Today Hendricks stands as the fourth caretaker of the establishment known for its chili cheese hot dogs, burgers, pizza puffs, sandwiches and sausages.—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The video shows slight puffs of smoke from the Sea Star’s smokestack, and then darker smoke rising from it after the strike.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Known as Wingspan, the 6,150-square-foot residence takes its name from the parabolic roofline that floats above the structure like an airplane wing.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
-
Hathaway’s White Queen floats with sweet highs and dark lows, her heavenly air masking a morbid psychosis.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Sooner or later, every ship sails off into the sunset.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
-
The boat sails from Genoa in complete darkness, a precaution against air raids.—
Marcy Thompson,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The song slowly drifts away, its job completed.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
-
In this haunting and visually inventive documentary, a spectral voice drifts through time and memory to trace the Maidan revolution and the roots of resistance in Ukraine.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wafts. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
