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
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
As the boats moved between Columbus Drive and Orleans Street, the river grew brighter with each pass.
—Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Many then made their way to Europe via small boats.
—Sam McNeil, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
In its nearly 50 years of operation, Brabus has expanded into customizing supercars, boats, and even fine-tuning its own take on real estate development.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Strangers could board and jump off the boats, endangering themselves, or vandalize the craft, the lawsuit says.
—Joe Marusak
march 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
The Pico Pump is a teeny tiny air pump for inflating everything from sleeping pads to minnow boats – and deflating them in a flash too.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Customers have used it not only in their own homes but also in their boats and RVs.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026
An aggressor nation that kills people on Caribbean fishing boats without evidence or due process.
—Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 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
But Iran does have potentially hundreds of smaller boats that can lay a few mines at a time, and destroying all of them would be extremely difficult, according to Jones.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
As the boats moved between Columbus Drive and Orleans Street, the river grew brighter with each pass.
—Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Many then made their way to Europe via small boats.
—Sam McNeil, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
In its nearly 50 years of operation, Brabus has expanded into customizing supercars, boats, and even fine-tuning its own take on real estate development.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Strangers could board and jump off the boats, endangering themselves, or vandalize the craft, the lawsuit says.
—Joe Marusak
march 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
The Pico Pump is a teeny tiny air pump for inflating everything from sleeping pads to minnow boats – and deflating them in a flash too.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Customers have used it not only in their own homes but also in their boats and RVs.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026
An aggressor nation that kills people on Caribbean fishing boats without evidence or due process.
—Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 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
-
At least 16 vessels have been struck in waters near the UAE’s Fujairah port, Iraq’s Khor Al Zubair port and the Gulf of Oman, according to the International Maritime Organization.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
-
About 20 vessels have been struck.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soon a tunnel between the ships, then a meeting, with a friendly, inquisitive alien who looks like a sort of craggy spider/crab, whom Grace dubs Rocky.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But Iran’s attacks on ships using the strait that are not its own have stopped that supply of oil, even fertilizer, upending those and other markets around the world.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In response, Iran has nearly halted traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s actions have effectively stopped cargo traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Four Seasons 1 officially joins the small but growing world of residential yachts that include the three Ritz-Carlton vessels—Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara—that have been under way for at least a year, and the field will soon include offerings from Aman and Orient Express.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Robinhood, which was founded on the idea of democratizing access to investing, has always played on the popular resentment of wealthy investor-insider types who might be partying on yachts with Tenev today.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The whippet-fast lift system got even more efficient this season with the introduction of the Explorer Gondola, the world’s speediest 10-person gondola that ferries skiers from base to peak on heated seats.—
Amy Tara Koch,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Beside the dock lay dozens of canoes owned by the East Bay Regional Park District, which proponents of the new park hope will be utilized more when construction is completed.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Speaking of which, the yacht carries a full arsenal of water toys, including Jet Skis, Seabobs, wakeboards, canoes, and tenders.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Best Nightlife The Port of Call and Dive Inspired by ports around the world, The Port of Call crafts exquisite cocktails in its nautical bar—and a trip to Mystic isn’t complete without trying 2024 James Beard Award best chef finalist Reneé Touponce’s beef empanadas.—
Morgan Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Some of the the night’s biggest winners were featured in Variety‘s signature Actors on Actors series, guested on the Awards Circuit podcast, appeared on the magazine cover and took part in the crafts-focused Inside the Frame video series.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The volunteer group's flights centered on spotting Cuban refugees fleeing their homeland and attempting to come to the United States, often in makeshift boats or rafts.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
People hurl wooden crates overboard, tumble off rafts, and frantically don life jackets—sometimes all at once.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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