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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
Inside a self care mindset, taking a pause to find your own inner compass is the key to navigating the future of work. Chris Westfall, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 And he’s got a really good compass of what needs to happen in the moment. Justin Curto, Vulture, 28 Apr. 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
  • Mahan has refused to back down, maintaining that making difficult decisions is necessary to steer San Jose in the right direction.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
  • Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Direct File is still limited in scope, and may be on its way out, casting taxpayers back into the jungle of for-profit tax preparation software.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Court of Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr said the lawsuit was beyond the scope of state law.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
  • While his admission may seem like a slight, cracking the list of the league’s top 10 defenders each season is a difficult task, particularly for perimeter players whose efforts aren’t as well represented by defensive metrics.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Right Now And don’t skip a walk around the city walls—a 1.2-mile stretch circling the Old Town.
    Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Union demonstrators demanding passage of the bill greeted lawmakers outside the Capitol in the morning, circling a corner of the parking lot used by the governor and top legislative leaders.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Artillery missions had been plotted the night before.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
  • The filmmaker puts aside the self-reflexive storytelling that has marked much of his work since he was first arrested in 2010, delivering a straightforward narrative that’s plotted like a good thriller but builds into a stark condemnation of abusive power.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The newlyweds tied the knot on May 16 at Sandals Ochi Rios in Jamaica, surrounded by their close friends and family.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • Others are sleeping in tents surrounded by the rubble of their former homes, fearful to leave in case they are forced out of Gaza.
    Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • In fact, with one of the lowest average ages in the whole of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain this season has become a team known for its young, hardworking and likeable core group of players – Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Barcola and Doué have all garnered plaudits.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • Forget iOS 19: Apple To Launch iPhone 17 With Radically Different Software, Report Says Software in the iPhone knows your location and is able to spot the satellites passing overhead to guide you where to point.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • To a lesser extent, McDavid was part of Leon Draisaitl’s Rocket-winning act this season.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • What to do instead: Make getting high-quality sleep a priority, to the extent that that’s possible.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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