GLIDING Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

gliding 1 of 3

adjective

as in hovering

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Dissimilar Words

gliding

2 of 3

noun

as in soaring

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gliding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of glide

as in flowing

to move or proceed smoothly and readily looking for a college course that he could just glide through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flying

to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings a kite gliding on the autumn breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in floating

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air water striders gliding along the surface of the brook

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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 gliding

Adjective

In addition, the action includes top-tier spider combat and awesome web-slinging and web-gliding traversal abilities. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026

Noun

Visitors especially enjoy paragliding and hang-gliding in the area, as well as canoeing and hiking all around the Valley. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 July 2026 And in 2022, Ristroph studied the surpassingly complex aerodynamics of what makes a good paper airplane—specifically what is needed for smooth gliding. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 This week, the moon will be visible gliding silently through the daytime sky from today (April 22), up until the next full moon phase on May 1. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026 Perfect for children’s bedrooms and play spaces, these favorably reviewed linen-blend curtains feature grommets for effortless gliding and breezy stripes in 27 colors that are equally kid- and grownup-friendly. — Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025 The team showed that this gliding persists down to –15 degree Celsius, setting a new benchmark for cellular motility in complex, nucleus-bearing organisms. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 Five-foot-10 and 170 pounds in his prime, Rondell was known for his daring diving, gymnastic and hang-gliding skills. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2025

Verb

In the videos, shot by drone by Joanna Steidle, the creatures can be seen gliding just beneath the water’s surface like hundreds of raviolis floating in aquamarine broth. — Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 Video from his dash camera shows the aircraft gliding under a highway sign, missing it by mere feet, before touching down in the empty lanes. — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 And there was Nacua, gliding underneath the pass and taking it to the end zone to a roar of cheers. — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Videos online showed buses easily gliding through emptied lanes. — John Surico, Curbed, 24 July 2026 At Waa Kiakahi, guests are taken out on much easier, gentler rides just offshore from the beach to get a feel for gliding in a canoe. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Who are these slimy gastropods that have been gliding across Earth since before the Ice Age? — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026 And for the best views, get one of the small, stylish rooms on the fourth floor—you’ll be able to see the ships gliding by. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026 Mars is spending the final days of the month gliding past the famous Pleiades star cluster (also known as the Seven Sisters) and this celestial encounter will not be this easy to see again for years. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gliding

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

Noun

After the company went public in 2021, sending its value soaring, Wolfe Herd briefly joined the small club of female billionaire founders, according to Forbes.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
With wider fintech deal numbers falling but AI‑native funding soaring, founders have had to adjust their pitch to meet investor expectations that companies can scale faster with fewer people.

— Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of soaring

Verb

Despite threats of a blockade of the Red Sea’s Bab-al-Mandeb strait from Iran’s Houthi allies, ship traffic has been flowing at a close-to-normal clip through that waterway in recent weeks.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Elsewhere is an exercise room, an art studio, and an office suite with its own entrance, as well as a primary suite boasting a walk-in closet and a luxe bath flowing out to a serene meditation garden with a hot tub.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of flowing

Verb

On the other is a relief depiction of a Kremlin in flames, with a drone flying over it.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Over the coming months, avionics, scientific instruments and thermal insulation will gradually transform the frame into the flying science laboratory destined for the outer solar system.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of flying

Verb

There, satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows the Christophe de Margerie sidled up against a sprawling floating storage unit, in a formation typical of ship-to-ship cargo transfers.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Photos of the outside cemetery show flooding and floating debris.

— Dave Savini, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of floating

Noun

The wildfire has grown just as rapidly, ballooning to 358,000 acres across Owyhee and Malheur counties as of Wednesday.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026
Situational Awareness rode a wave of AI optimism since its inception in 2024, ballooning to a peak of $45 billion in assets before last week's reckoning.

— Hugh Son, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of ballooning

Verb

After 30 years of cruising, the writer considers a balcony cabin the most consistently worthwhile upgrade.

— Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
An erotic thriller that captures the dying charm of Thailand’s stand-alone cinemas which also serve as cruising sites for closeted gay men.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of cruising

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glides

gliding

glimmer

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“Gliding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gliding. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of gliding

adjective

noun

verb

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