rafts 1 of 2

noun

plural of raft
as in loads
a considerable amount the babysitter had to listen to a whole raft of rules before she was allowed to even pick up the baby

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rafts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of raft
as in buoys

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 rafts
Noun
Lorenzo was with his family in Aruba on August 11 when a boat pulling rafts the family members were on abruptly turned, sending the floating rafts towards another boat, according to the outlet. — Susan Young, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 The group had been water tubing on the Muskegon River when their rafts, which were only meant to be used in a pool, broke apart and left them stranded, Jazman's mother, Teresa Hock, told WWMT. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Another historic beach club, Le Carillon (from 1937), features a stylish collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, with the designers’ vivid Verde Maiolica pattern used for loungers, umbrellas, beach towels-- and even floating rafts. — Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Scientists will also be able to use satellite observations of the pumice rafts to hone estimates of the size of the eruption. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2026 For Nidever, Light and the rest, the rafts were an easy way to make a fast buck. — Literary Hub, 29 July 2026 They are filled with cuddly characters, Broadway-caliber shows and water slides with screens set into the tubes to tell stories about Mickey Mouse while riders rocket past on rafts. — Christian Sylt, Fortune, 16 July 2026 But flows on much of the Colorado River were high enough for rafts and kayaks this week. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 July 2026 For something slower-paced, float the Penticton channel that connects Okanagan and Skaha lakes on tube rafts. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rafts
  1. loads
  2. balloons
  3. dozens
  4. floats
  5. piles
  6. tons
  7. hundreds
  8. bundles
Noun
  • The team must improve the fabrication process, scale up the laser power, and determine whether the ceramic waveguides can maintain their optical performance under much higher loads.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The rocket planes tested reaction-control systems for maneuvering where the air was too thin for normal aerodynamic controls, while gathering data on heating, stability, structural loads, human performance and piloting techniques during reentry.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • Cut with a curved outer seam that balloons slightly through the thigh before tapering at the ankle, the shape is all about creating volume.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
  • The mid-rise jeans have an exaggerated barrel silhouette that balloons out at the knee and tapers into a wide-leg fit at the ankle.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of balloons
Noun
  • Earlier this year, the US government introduced new rules requiring citizens of dozens of countries, including Cape Verde, to post a bond of up to 15,000 dollars to enter the United States.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Last week, dozens of people were kidnapped from a mosque in a spate of abductions at several villages in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state.
    — Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of dozens
Verb
  • But as Ravyn Lenae floats into the midtown Manhattan studio on the release day of her third studio album, her energy creates a temporary oasis.
    — Sidney Madden, VIBE.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The massive, 171-foot-tall (52 meters) spacecraft now floats just offshore of Christmas Island, awaiting inspection.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of floats
Noun
  • Dolly Parton's mass appeal, which transcends cultural, political and generational lines, is so intriguing that piles of books, essays, podcasts, TV shows and other media aim to get to the bottom of it.
    — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Options considered during the analysis included drilling holes in the existing piles and adding more steel inside, or widening the pile caps so more piles could be added on the outside.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of piles
Noun
  • Experts said it was most likely caused by a partial glacier collapse that sent tons of ice and rock crashing down into the valley below, setting off a powerful landslide.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • California wine has already been contending with declining demand and global oversupply issues, leading to downsizing, closures and disposal of tons of grapes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of tons
Noun
  • The toll is expected to rise, as hundreds of people are still missing, including foreign nationals from several countries.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • ReelShort has struck a deal with Indonesian streaming platform Vidio to bring hundreds of microdramas to local audiences, as well as co-produce new short dramas with Indonesian production houses.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of hundreds
Noun
  • Agents searched the phones of Peguero and other people on the boat and found photos going back to December 2024 showing bundles of cocaine.
    — David Goodhue August 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
  • As NBCUniversal prepares for its future as a standalone company, internal discussions have revolved around partnerships, bundles and other similar opportunities with media and tech companies, people familiar with the matter said.
    — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of bundles

Browse Nearby Words

rafting
rafts
rag
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Cite this Entry

“Rafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rafts. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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