1
as in to traverse
to travel completely around
the first ship to circumnavigate the globe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to bypass
to avoid by going around
we can circumnavigate the traffic jam if we take the next exit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumnavigate
Ships would no longer need to circumnavigate South America, braving the treacherous waters off Cape Horn.
—
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
From 1986 to 1988, thousands of pounds of incinerated soot from Philadelphia circumnavigated the globe on a container ship in search of a buyer.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
The narrow route, first opened by the U.S. in 1914, allows cargo vessels to travel between the American continents rather than having to circumnavigate them, reducing transit times.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Shortly after, Lewis circumnavigated the world in M5.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for circumnavigate 
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
From 1986 to 1988, thousands of pounds of incinerated soot from Philadelphia circumnavigated the globe on a container ship in search of a buyer.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
The narrow route, first opened by the U.S. in 1914, allows cargo vessels to travel between the American continents rather than having to circumnavigate them, reducing transit times.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Shortly after, Lewis circumnavigated the world in M5.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
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Multiple waves of low pressure will traverse this boundary, and this coupled with the Pacific moisture transport and upslope flow/forcing over the higher terrain of the coastal ranges and northern Sierra Nevada foothills should yield as much as an additional 5 to 10 inches of rain.—
Anna Skinner,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
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In Connemara National Park in County Galway, hike to views of the Twelve Bens Mountains, or traverse across Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal, which has gorgeous lakeside and mountain trails, and then hit the visitor center for tea and cake.—
Yvonne Gordon,
AFAR Media,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Glutathione that's administered intravenously bypasses the digestive system and has direct access to the bloodstream, but Patel said this method also has been shown to have minimal absorption.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA TODAY,
6 Feb. 2025
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De minimis has helped propel Temu and Shein’s explosive growth in the U.S. by allowing the companies to bypass taxes on low-value shipments, and sustain their rock-bottom prices on everything from shoes and clothes to furniture and electronics.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Fritz circled the airfield, in an attempt to get the birds to fall in behind.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
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Former players, mostly, circling those old, familiar wagons again.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The legal battle gained further attention when, on February 7, a federal appeals court ruled on a procedural matter in the investigation, which had initially considered whether McMahon had circumvented WWE's internal controls to hide these allegations.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
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Other countries under sanctions – Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela – have previously employed clandestine shipping networks to circumvent international scrutiny and sanctions.—
Dominique Soguel,
The Christian Science Monitor,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Rocky worlds orbiting these smaller stars could have rich carbon atmospheres, or even hazes, like Saturn's moon Titan.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away.—
Richard Tribou,
Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In a post on X, the NYPD asked people to avoid the area as the investigation proceeded.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2025
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While Janice avoids even visiting Eric in prison, she is torn between cleaning out his room and grappling with the role of faith and religion.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The halo, known as an Einstein ring, encircles a galaxy 590 million light-years away, considered close by cosmic standards.—
Gqlshare,
Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2025
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The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Sunday that geolocated evidence showed Russian forces occupied 89 percent of the settlement, but there was no sign that it had been encircled.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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How Fentanyl Enters the U.S.: Mexican drug cartels are turning thousands of Americans into fentanyl smugglers, sending an army of couriers who can easily cross between both countries.—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
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The returning hostages crossed the border Saturday into Israeli territory and made their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they were reunited with their families.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
15 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near circumnavigate
Cite this Entry
“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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