DRIFT Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'drift' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of drift are current , tendency , tenor , and trend . While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse. // the drift of the population away from large cities // got the drift of her argument

Q: When could 'current' be used to replace 'drift'?

The words current and drift can be used in similar contexts, but current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course. // an encounter that changed the current of my life

Q: When would 'tendency' be a good substitute for 'drift'?

The words tendency and drift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force. // a general tendency toward inflation

Q: Where would 'tenor' be a reasonable alternative to 'drift'?

Although the words tenor and drift have much in common, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course. // the tenor of the times

Q: When can 'trend' be used instead of 'drift'?

The synonyms trend and drift are sometimes interchangeable, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course. // the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift 1 of 2

verb

Definition of drift

as in to flow

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

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 the boat drifted along on the current

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wander

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

drift

2 of 2

noun

ˈdrift

as in mound

a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) deep drifts of snow blocked our driveway

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in tide

a prevailing or general movement or inclination the steady drift of the population away from large cities

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in sense

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word drift different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of drift are current, tendency, tenor, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities

got the drift of her argument

When could current be used to replace drift?

The words current and drift can be used in similar contexts, but current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When would tendency be a good substitute for drift?

The words tendency and drift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

Where would tenor be a reasonable alternative to drift?

Although the words tenor and drift have much in common, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When can trend be used instead of drift?

The synonyms trend and drift are sometimes interchangeable, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

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 drift

Verb

If warmer temperatures mean more weeds, in turn leading to more herbicides, then these chemicals could drift over to nearby natural areas, already a significant problem in Illinois, Zaya said. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2026 Particles of disintegrating kelp drifted downward like falling leaves. — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Noun

Both the Beast and the original One Pro had very similar drift after a firmware update to the former, but the 1 Pro+ seems much more stable than both. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 If the draft resolution is adopted in October, keeping track of the differences between these time scales, especially the drift between UTC and UT1, would become a more important part of high-precision timekeeping. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift

Verb

From there, wine flowed as attendees tucked into filet mignon and sea bass while chatting across large burgundy floral centerpieces.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Some of the weapons from American manufacturers purchased during the Biden administration are still flowing to Ukraine, but many of those contracts have been fulfilled.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of flow

Verb

With a police helicopter hovering overhead, police started using tear gas and a water cannon in an effort to move the protesters back.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Daytime temperatures hovered in the upper 40s to low 50s this week in Halifax, with overnight lows in the 30s, according to weather reports.

— Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of hover

Noun

But despite this, they were still conceived of as being located within the mounds themselves, real-world anchors for these strange, marvelous realms.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Maybe Ohtani will accept surrendering the mound if he is handed a spot in the outfield?

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of mound

Noun

Moderate flooding is possible on low-lying roads and in back bay communities, particularly where water doesn't fully drain between tides.

— Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Southern California’s fragile coastline is being transformed one storm at a time by record-setting king tides and storm surges.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of tide

Noun

The tightness of White’s control over his arrangements can occasionally foreclose the sense of chaotic freedom inherent to his more collaborative efforts.

— Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
This approach was meant to counter Vucic's one-man rule and restore a sense of community and solidarity.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of sense

Verb

After a brief safety lesson on navigating the course and its cables, participants can ride a zip line into the park, gliding 60 feet above the quarry floor at speeds exceeding 30 mph.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Instead, look for a lip liner that glides on smoothly but has enough grip to keep color from migrating beyond the lip line.

— Sheryl George, Allure, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of glide

Verb

Diversification into more reliable sectors, including tourism, has been floated as a means to bring in the hard currency needed to allow the nation more access to global markets.

— Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
As emerging economies and coastal hubs face growing power shortfalls, modular floating plants offer a way to secure grid capacity while keeping the door open to future hydrogen adoption.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of float

Browse Nearby Words

dries up

drift

drifted

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of drift

verb

noun

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