The sail tightened in the strong wind.
Source: tatoeba (19224)
Sail
/seɪl/
Synonyms for "sail" (220 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (44)
Strong matches (66)
ferryfleetflitfloatflowflyfly-by-nightflying kitesfootfore gaff-topsailfore topgallant sailfore-and-aft sailfore-skysailfore-topmast staysailfore-topsailforeroyalforesailforestaysailgalleyget under way
Show 44 more words
ghostgive no troubleglideglissadego by shipgo easilygo like clockworkgo off soundingsgo on shipboardgo to seahave way uponheadhophoverhydroplaneice skateice-skatejennyjetjibjiggerleechlegleg-of-mutton sailloose-footed saillufflugmain gaff-topsailmain royalmain skysailmain-royal staysailmain-topsailmainsailmake a passagemizzenmizzen skysailmizzen staysailmizzen-royal staysailmizzen-topgallant sailmoonrakermoonsailmotorboatmuslinnavigate
Related words (110)
ocean tripparachute spinnakerpassagepilotplain sailplaneplow the deepplypresent no difficultiespress of sailpush offput offput to searagreduced sailreefreef pointreefed sailrideride the sea
Show 67 more words
rollroller skateroller-skaterowroyalrunrun smoothlysail awaysail roundsail the seasailboatsailing boatsailing cruisersailing shipsailing vesselsailplanescudscullsea tripseafareseaplaneset sailshakedown cruiseshootshove offsideslipskateskateboardskiskidskimskyscrapersledsleighslideslipslithersoarspankerspinnakerspitfiresquare sailstaysailsteamsteamboatsteerstern staysailstorm trysailsweeptake a voyagetake the airtake wingtall shiptoboggantopsailtraversetrysailvolplanevoyagewaftwalk the waterswindboatwindjammerwindshipwingwork wellyacht
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: canvas, cruise, aeroplane, airlift, airplane.
- Sentence evidence is available for sail, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sail".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sail"
Keep "sail" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sail" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sail", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sail" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesbeginboatconstructionfabricinitiate voyagejourneymaterialmovemove by waternavigationocean trippiece of clothpiece of materialstructuretemporal progression
Showing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
14 entriescoastal sailingcruiseelapsed timeembarkationexpeditiongaff sailjibmainsailoffshore voyageport departuresea crossingspinnakertime intervalvoyage
Collocations
12 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
7 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
25 total sentences available.
We began to sail in the direction of the port.
Source: tatoeba (22988)
Sail along the coast.
Source: tatoeba (25932)
Clouds sail across the sky.
Source: tatoeba (26526)
Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sail"?
Closest matches include canvas, cruise, aeroplane, airlift, airplane.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sail"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.