RANGE Synonyms: 244 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'range' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of range are compass , gamut , orbit , scope , and sweep . While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities. // the entire range of human experience

Q: When might 'compass' be a better fit than 'range'?

Although the words compass and range have much in common, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity. // your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

Q: When could 'gamut' be used to replace 'range'?

While the synonyms gamut and range are close in meaning, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another. // a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

Q: Where would 'orbit' be a reasonable alternative to 'range'?

The meanings of orbit and range largely overlap; however, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation. // within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

Q: When is 'scope' a more appropriate choice than 'range'?

While in some cases nearly identical to range , scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible. // as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sweep' instead of 'range'?

The synonyms sweep and range are sometimes interchangeable, but sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity. // the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

range 1 of 2

noun

ˈrānj

Definition of range next

as in pasture

open land over which livestock may roam and feed knew exactly how many head of cattle were turned out on the range that morning to graze

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in scope

an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends didn't know she had such a wide range of knowledge until I talked to her

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as in spectrum

the distance or extent between possible extremes an actor who can go through the full range of emotion, from joy to sorrow, in mere minutes

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as in stroll

a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure they were stopped by security personnel while taking an innocent range through the palace grounds

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as in line

a series of persons or things arranged one behind another from the air, the mountain range stretched as far as we could see in both directions

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as in stove

an appliance that prepares food for consumption by heating it the high-end appliances include a professional-quality gas range

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as in habitat

the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found the American robin's winter range has steadily extended farther and farther north

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range

2 of 2

verb

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type the campers were ranged in patrols, each patrol consisting of girls in a certain age group

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to roam

to move about from place to place aimlessly she let her dog off the leash and whistled for him every now and then to make sure he didn't range out of hearing

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as in to vary

to occur within a continuous range of variation the color of Florida grapefruit can range anywhere from pale pink to ruby red

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as in to arrange

to put into a particular arrangement chairs were ranged round the perimeter of the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun range differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of range are compass, gamut, orbit, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

When might compass be a better fit than range?

Although the words compass and range have much in common, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When could gamut be used to replace range?

While the synonyms gamut and range are close in meaning, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

Where would orbit be a reasonable alternative to range?

The meanings of orbit and range largely overlap; however, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When is scope a more appropriate choice than range?

While in some cases nearly identical to range, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

When is it sensible to use sweep instead of range?

The synonyms sweep and range are sometimes interchangeable, but sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

Examples of range in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Using data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology mapped what different brain networks activate when subjects watch clips from a range of movies. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024 From sparkling stemware to intricate ornaments, Waterford offers a range of stunning pieces that bond generations and promise to leave even the toughest critic in awe. —

Chloe Castleberry, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

But its debut kicks off a carefully orchestrated effort by Warner Bros. to launch a next wave of Harry Potter products, ranging from TV series to video games to theme parks to high-end merchandise and live experiences. —

Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024 The Tariff Act of 1930 gives CBP authority to detain, further examine or seize goods that violate laws ranging from country of origin to intellectual property rights. —

Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for range

Recent Examples of Synonyms for range

Noun

As lack of rainfall wreaks havoc on plant life, the Samburu people struggle to find grazing pasture for their cattle.

Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Based on a study published in Nature Sustainability a few months ago, 1.4 million hectares (the equivalent of nine cities the size of Greater London) were deforested in 2015 to open space for pasture for cows to graze.

Simi Thambi, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024