1
as in vessels
a small buoyant structure for travel on water
paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ships
a large craft for travel by water
you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in sails
to travel on water in a vessel
boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of boats
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Businesses have doled out up as much as $4 million to move boats through the Panama Canal with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, according to the Panama Canal Authority, in a move that has created a seismic shift in global trade flows.
—Alma Solis, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The drones evolved into reusable boats that can carry multiple rocket launchers.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
The town, home to roughly 20,000 residents, sits near the Wisconsin border, where people can show up on their boats for waterfront dining and admire the work of the circa-1931 lift bridge, one of the few still in operation.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
The rider hung onto his upside-down watercraft for an hour, as speeding boats raced by.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Four helicopters and six small boats will take part in the crew and capsule recovery after splashdown in the waters of the Pacific.
—Miles Doran, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Other responding boats were even farther out.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
The race, organized annually by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, draws a mix of serious sailors in multimillion-dollar yachts, alongside weekend warriors who sail decades-old boats, with vessels ranging from small 29-footers to massive 85-foot yachts.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Businesses have doled out up as much as $4 million to move boats through the Panama Canal with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, according to the Panama Canal Authority, in a move that has created a seismic shift in global trade flows.
—Alma Solis, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The drones evolved into reusable boats that can carry multiple rocket launchers.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
The town, home to roughly 20,000 residents, sits near the Wisconsin border, where people can show up on their boats for waterfront dining and admire the work of the circa-1931 lift bridge, one of the few still in operation.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
The rider hung onto his upside-down watercraft for an hour, as speeding boats raced by.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Four helicopters and six small boats will take part in the crew and capsule recovery after splashdown in the waters of the Pacific.
—Miles Doran, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Other responding boats were even farther out.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade.
—Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boats
Noun
-
Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, said Kyiv had informed Israeli authorities about the vessels in advance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Since the beginning of the war, nearly 800 vessels have been stuck in a holding pattern near the passage, impacting about 20,000 mariners.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Despite the dramatic disruption, a small number of ships are still coming in and out of the Persian Gulf via the strait.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The two new ships represent the sixth and seventh additions to the Icon class.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Where Silver Origin Sails Silver Origin sails two seven-night itineraries—North and South—each revealing a different side of the archipelago.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The boat sails from Genoa in complete darkness, a precaution against air raids.—
Marcy Thompson,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To top it off, the X-Shinobi yachts are equipped with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems, ensuring a quiet and fume-free cruising experience for guests while helping to reduce the environmental impact of marine tourism.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
-
So many of celebrity culture’s finest moments have taken place on or around yachts in recent years.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The blockage of the strait, which normally ferries 20% of the world's oil, sent global energy prices soaring.—
Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Iran has effectively halted trade traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime trade route that ferries roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pão de queijo, as moreish as popcorn, manioc gnocchi, rock-pool sea urchins and Tainha fish, caught by local fishermen who still use traditional canoes and spears, are all served on banana leaves on a wooden table outdoors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The tour ends at the Scar Trees, which are a group of trees that had their bark removed by Aboriginal Peoples for various purposes, including crafting items like canoes or shields.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The April 12 bash featured Care Bears, cake and crafts and took place at the children’s play area Off The Wall in Los Angeles.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The market also sells groceries, artisanal crafts, and handcrafted products from throughout Mexico.—
Sharael Kolberg,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The plane’s pieces are now, in effect, life rafts (though there are some actual oversize yellow inflatable rafts aboard that will come into play).—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The rafts have to be able to withstand exposure for 30 days, according to a code put out by the International Maritime Organization.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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