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compass

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verb

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as in to circle
to travel completely around the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun compass differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of compass are gamut, orbit, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When is gamut a more appropriate choice than compass?

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

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When is it sensible to use orbit instead of compass?

In some situations, the words orbit and compass are roughly equivalent. 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

Where would range be a reasonable alternative to compass?

The meanings of range and compass largely overlap; however, 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 could scope be used to replace compass?

The words scope and compass can be used in similar contexts, but scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

In what contexts can sweep take the place of compass?

Although the words sweep and compass have much in common, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compass
Noun
Start with a philosophy that serves as a compass for senior leaders. Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025 Without a compass to explore a piece so strange as this one, most people seemed content to capture it all on their phones. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
The wind sighs: Save me, Lord, for the waters have compassed my soul. Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 Abigail Jackson The adjacent dining area is dedicated to family heirlooms like a set of Allan Gould compass chairs from Kate’s interior designer grandmother and a red vintage rug from her great-grandparents. Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for compass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compass
Noun
  • Gonzalez joined the weightlifting team beginning in her junior season and excelled under the direction of coach Heidi Bowser.
    Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The pendulum, which swung far toward inclusion in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, is now swinging back in full force in the opposite direction.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The administration has not ruled out the possibility of expanding the scope of the tariffs to include additional vehicle components.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Most people can’t comprehend the current scope of spaceflight advancement, says Antonio Peronace, the executive director of Space for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that brings private citizens to space.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This means going beyond traditional perimeter defenses and endpoint security.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Enemy forces launched an attack that penetrated the base perimeter.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Jonah Hill is circling to headline, write and direct Cut Off for Warner Bros.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Dolphins circled the capsule as divers readied it for hoisting onto the recovery ship.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Less than a month into the job, Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister plotted their response to a North Korean missile launch in the open-air patio of Mar a Lago, photos of which ended up on Facebook.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
  • During his trial at the Constitutional Court last month, Han denied plotting martial law with Yoon.
    Gawon Bae, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The observatory said the pyroclastic flows would affect the areas immediately surrounding the volcano.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • And the positivity surrounding it is annoying, including my own.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The cause of the fire was not known, the Fire Brigade said.
    Phil Helsel, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Beta amyloid plaques are known to collect between neurons in the brain and disrupt cell function.
    Jade Walker, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The extent of unused offices in Washington was highlighted in a December report from Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) office.
    Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The extent of that wild ride is two contract extensions worth a total of $189 million.
    Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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