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
  6. vagabond
Noun
  • The first season focuses on Kauri, a lifestyle nomad who is leaving Finland once again, but on the night of his departure his van breaks down.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Digital nomad groups do the legwork to ensure a rich cultural experience, provide local support and side trips, introduce you to like-minded travelers, and are more affordable than many tours.
    — Maria Leonard Olsen, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of nomad
Noun
  • My eight women are divided into wanderers, rebels, explorers, and mentors.
    — Anne E. Fernald, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The constant wanderer’s favorite place to jet off to is Italy, especially Rome, which inspired the name of her 4-year-old daughter.
    — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of wanderer
Noun
  • Since 2017 individual travelers have also been able to pass through the port.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • On Wednesday, a massive ice-rock avalanche triggered flash floods in Nepal’s steep Himalayan valleys, killing at least 72 people, sweeping away villages and roads, and leaving hundreds of residents and travelers missing.
    — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 26 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
Noun
  • Anyway, no longer satisfied with making sure that the theatrical trains run on time, Anna is a national parks vagabond, going from job to job, never laying down roots.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
  • His divorces ultimately left him scrambling for stability and turned him into a kind of moneyed vagabond, living out of suitcases.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 May 2026
Definition of vagabond

Browse Nearby Words

drifted
drifter
drifters
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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