DRIFTING Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

drifting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of drifting

as in ranging

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in hovering

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

drifting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of drift

as in flowing

to move or proceed smoothly and readily casual conversation drifting from one topic to another

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in floating

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air the boat drifted along on the current

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wandering

to move about from place to place aimlessly spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 drifting

Verb

For some, drifting along on a tube is the ultimate way to soak up the scenery. — Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2026 Closer to home, Roman will monitor small variations in light from stars near the center of the Milky Way galaxy in order to infer the presence of rogue planets drifting between the stars. — Don Figer, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 The other was drifting toward akolasia without noticing the drift. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 There remained a continued risk of drifting or uncharted mines in and near the Iranian and Omani designated shipping corridors, with mine danger areas still active, the UKMTO said. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 That contradiction is where the platform’s next regulatory and consumer-trust fight will play out, and recent tweaks show the company knows the line is drifting. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 Previously, the state Department of Agriculture interpreted that to mean that outdoor growing was prohibited, citing concerns over security and agricultural pesticides drifting into marijuana crops. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 If the object is drifting through the field of view from left to right, place it on the far left to keep it in view for as long as possible. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026 And Chiles is the most versatile — capable of drifting between edge rusher and a coverage aide. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifting

Adjective

Never underestimate the power of novelty, especially in the wandering eyes of new-money millennials.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
They are known to ruin picnics, chase wandering children, and terrorize those who accidentally mow over a nest.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of wandering

Adjective

The drones then find the best hovering altitude before each lining up to spray the fire, one after the other.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026
He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026

Definition of hovering

Verb

Previous research suggested Saturn's hexagon results from an eastward jet within its atmosphere flowing in a curving path near the ringed planet's north pole.

— Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Progress has been hampered by persistent rain and challenging terrain, as crews have to work in a narrow mountain gorge, hemmed in between unstable cliffs and a fast-flowing river.

— Reuters, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of flowing

Verb

Both boats are still floating, though their locations and ownership have changed over the years.

— Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Around noon Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a local golf course patron who noticed a possible body floating downstream in the Dominguez Channel, the department said in a statement.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of floating

Verb

The playable character models and even roaming NPCs feature incredible outfit details.

— Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
Despite his tech background, Brittin ditched the Q&A function on the festival’s app in favor of roaming microphones in the audience, giving him a chance to speak directly with his interrogators.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of roaming

Adjective

And then there’s the Kiyosaki residence, a rambling Moroccan fantasia with muddy adobe walls and a pink door.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
In the podcast, conversations with guests are interspersed with rambling reflections from Von, who is open about his past issues with substance abuse.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rambling

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Style

“Drifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifting. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of drifting

adjective

verb

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