as in breezes
a slight or gentle movement of air
wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of wafts
Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Jan. 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
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
Every so often, the distinct scent of cigar smoke wafts through the Palace’s lobby, even though the theater hasn’t allowed smoking inside for decades.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
The scent of fragrant broth wafts from the kitchen into the bright dining room.
—Bao Ong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
The essence of French cooking wafts through the air as one passes the doors of other iconic eateries like Le Bilboquet, La Goulue, Le Veau d’Or, and Match 65 Brasserie, all located in the East 60s.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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
And occasionally, the smell of chemical agents wafts by.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Jan. 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
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
Every so often, the distinct scent of cigar smoke wafts through the Palace’s lobby, even though the theater hasn’t allowed smoking inside for decades.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
The scent of fragrant broth wafts from the kitchen into the bright dining room.
—Bao Ong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
The essence of French cooking wafts through the air as one passes the doors of other iconic eateries like Le Bilboquet, La Goulue, Le Veau d’Or, and Match 65 Brasserie, all located in the East 60s.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
-
Sprawling under a constant sun and cooled by ocean breezes rippling through those signature palm trees, Los Angeles is a singular city with hotel options to match.—
Tim Chester,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2026
-
From muscling the F50s around the course in strong winds, these soft, sub-foiling breezes require a completely different skill set.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That door still hovers in my mind, the dark wood; dark, too, around the edges where light usually shone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Today, that number hovers around 500.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These puffs are an easy, shareable snack that are hard not to like.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Students moved from booth to booth sampling everything from Cajun pasta and cheesy enchilada bake to sushi rolls and strawberry pancake puffs.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Garden District is one of those areas that floats between yesterday and tomorrow, where Greek- and Italianate-style homes adorned with ornate cast iron and sweeping verandas provide shade for people watching and respite from the commercial center.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
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But even with hundreds of objects, the show barely floats the question of how that chemistry operated, let alone explore it.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That often sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver with stops such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Two examples of these itineraries are Celebrity’s transatlantic sailing from Orlando, Florida, to Southampton, England (by way of Bermuda and Lisbon), and this 23-day transpacific journey aboard Windstar Cruises, which sails from Tokyo to Vancouver.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Someone drifts beyond their lane and doesn’t signal.—
Rose Evans
Updated March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Conveniently, the stands chose Bassett, who has occupied a central role for Portland but also drifts wide from time to time.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wafts. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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