Waft

/wɑft/

Synonyms for "waft" (110 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (22)

air expressairfreightairliftasportationbearbear upbearingblastblowblow a hurricaneblow great gunsblow overblow upblusterbreathbreath of airbreeze

Strong matches (33)

Noun(10 words)
Verb(1 words)

Related words (55)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: air express, airflow, airfreight, airlift, aroma.
  • Sentence evidence is available for waft, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, 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 "waft".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "waft"

Keep "waft" 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 "waft" 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 "waft", 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 "waft" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

13 entries
air movementbe adriftblowdispersedriftflagfloatmovenatural phenomenonodorolfactory stimulusscent

More specific

11 entries
aromabreezedraftfragrancefragrance dispersionfragrance driftgustodor driftperfumescent driftsmoke drift

Collocations

11 entries
breeze wafts acrossgentle waftscent wafts upsmoke wafts awaysoft waftwaft a fragrancewaft a scentwaft of perfumewaft of smokewaft through the roomwafting scent

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

4 entries

Sample sentences

13 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

"This more, besides, I charge thee to obey, / if any faith to Helenus be due, / or skill in prophecy the seer display, / and mighty Phoebus hath inspired me true, / these warning words I urge, and oft will urge anew: / Seek Juno first; great Juno's power adore; / with suppliant gifts the potent queen constrain, / and winds shall waft thee to Italia's shore."

Source: tatoeba (7129335)

Then sire Anchises hastened to entwine / a massive goblet with a wreath, and vowed / libations to the gods, and poured the wine / and on the lofty stern invoked the powers divine: / "Great gods, whom Earth and Sea and Storms obey, / breathe fair, and waft us smoothly o'er the main."

Source: tatoeba (7209621)

A breeze came in through the open window and wafted her sensuous perfume into my eager nostrils.

Source: wiktionary

I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "waft"?

Closest matches include air express, airflow, airfreight, airlift, aroma.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "waft"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "waft"