drifter

noun

ˈdrif-tər How to pronounce drifter (audio)
Definition of drifternext
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 drifter Arngrim, 64, has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it (yet still unforgettable) moment in Episode 2 of the Netflix series playing Ida, a forest drifter who meets up with Laura (Alice Halsey) and her older sister Mary (Skywalker Hughes). — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 11 July 2026 Jellyfish are also passive drifters, meaning that they are often unintentionally carried towards shore by powerful ocean currents. — New Atlas, 30 June 2026 Joining the crew is Nick (MacKay), desperate to provide for his young family, and Liam (Turner), a mysterious drifter eager to escape his past. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 June 2026 Nor is Liam, an itinerant drifter who juggles whatever trade is on offer but perhaps hasn’t nailed down any single one of them. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for drifter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifter
  1. nomad
  2. wanderer
  3. traveler
  4. roamer
  5. wayfarer
Noun
  • View gallery - 9 images With its modest length of just 6 m (20 ft), the Mini tiny house could be a good fit for would-be nomads.
    — Adam Williams July 23, New Atlas, 24 July 2026
  • The titular nomad needed, perhaps, an actor with a little more mischief and roguishness to sell his transformation from conman to folk hero (Harrison Ford, 55 at the time, may have been a good alternative).
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
Definition of nomad
Noun
  • This means Stein’s newfound wanderer could be coming or going, either on its way out of or heading into the heart of its galaxy.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 July 2026
  • The casing is scaled to sit comfortably on everything from compact terriers to massive working breeds – a critical bit of design, given how easily a determined wanderer of any size can slip out of sight.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 July 2026
Definition of wanderer
Noun
  • Critics say the bonds impose a harsh financial burden on travelers.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • For travelers planning a trip to Maui, here are highlights of what’s new at this paradise in the Pacific.
    — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of traveler
Noun
  • Animals that are kennel-trained will likely be pleased to be in their cozy confines and away from the bustle of vacuums, mops, and the like, but for those who are roamers, consider gating off an area for them.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of roamer
Noun
  • Despite the different sunglass trends that are out there—tiny sunglasses, cat-eyes, wayfarers—aviators continue to remain Aniston’s favorite.
    — Samantha Sutton, InStyle, 22 July 2026
  • In high school, my friends and I became subway wayfarers, traveling in search of great high-school games.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Definition of wayfarer

Browse Nearby Words

drifted
drifter
drifters
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Cite this Entry

“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifter. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of drifter for Spanish Speakers

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