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drift

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noun

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
That doesn't necessarily mean dark matter haloes sans galaxies can drift through the cosmos like gigantic ghosts, though. Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Then, of course, there’s the famed photo of Juan Manuel Fangio drifting at the 1957 French Grand Prix. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
Listen to this article Thoughts of home drift in and out for Max Shulga, but life at Virginia Commonwealth moves too fast to leave much room to feel the pain from 5,000 miles away. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025 This helps identify inconsistencies, drift patterns and potential issues that could impact model performance over time. Neel Sendas, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
  • The rich sat on deck while the poor were squeezed in the hold below, with no place to relieve themselves, so excrement, vomit, and other wastes flowed down into the lower areas.
    Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The liquor flows so freely that the rest room nearly becomes a vomitorium.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The early critical response has hovered north of the 90th percentile in favorability, though some reviewers argue the filmmakers have gone too narrow-focus on sheer authenticity, not to say shock value.
    Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But momentous events from beyond the stage hovered, too: In February, well after all 5,000 tickets had been sold for our two-night stand, Donald Trump dismissed multiple members of the Kennedy Center board and installed himself as the institution’s chairman.
    Ryan Miller, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • On Monday night, a glittering crowd stepped out to celebrate the store’s opening, before heading over to Palazzo Serbelloni to wander through its halls and take in the homewares collection.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Nestled along the sandy shores of Siloso Beach, the resort is adorned in tropical greenery, while peacocks wander freely across the gardens, hornbills perch in the frangipani trees and dinosaur-like monitor lizards sunbathe by breakfast tables.
    Nicole Trilivas, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Ohtani should find his way back to the mound at some point this season and reestablish himself as a dominant force, not only as a batter but also as a pitcher.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • With a left-hander on the mound, Oscar Gonzalez will start in left field and Yuli Gurriel will serve as the DH, sending Gavin Sheets to a pinch-hitting role.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This rising tide has been spurred in large part by billionaires, particularly Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and, to a lesser extent, Richard Branson.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Arroyo memorializes ordinary buildings at risk of being swept up in the tide of gentrification in Miami through his paintings, while Simmons creates with concrete, fabric, acrylic, found objects and construction debris to form architectural sculptures and mixed media works.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That has always been part of the Trumpist package of maybe not ideas in the sense of grand philosophies but certainly cultural ideas.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
  • His sharp sense of storytelling and visionary approach to content has consistently set him apart as a true leader.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The razor was easier to use on wet skin because the water and soap provided more lubricant to glide along my legs, but the dry shaving was also easy and painless.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Cotton has a rougher feel, whereas silk pillowcases have a smoother, more frictionless surface that not only feels super luxurious but also allows your head to glide effortlessly.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump floated a plan to nix the federal income tax and replace revenue with money from tariffs.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Governor Kathy Hochul later floated her own Brooklyn-to-Queens light-rail project, the Interborough Express, or IBX.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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