range 1 of 2

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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
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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5
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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6
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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7
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

range

2 of 2

verb

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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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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

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 range
Noun
With a frequency range starting at a subsonic 4Hz and extending to a bat-squeaking 96kHz, these headphones have a tonality enhanced with high-frequency sparkle but with a comfortable sound signature. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 Sadly, this noble, ocean-going species is on the decline throughout its native range, with many runs listed as threatened or endangered. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
Her roster of accomplishments and notable events range a wide variety of experiential activations, consumer and B2B events, red carpet premieres, award shows, media centers, festivals and tours all over the globe (including, but not limited to notable premieres in London and India). Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2025 The topics range from decoding teenage slang to the viral generation challenge. Kayla Grant, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for range
Recent Examples of Synonyms for range
Noun
  • In the spring, nearby pastures fill with wildflowers unseen by the inmates.
    Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Money will be exiting the stock market all year into the safer and somewhat greener pastures.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The effort would divert in-house teams from their core functions at a time when their role is expanding in scope, complexity, and significance.
    Mark A. Cohen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
  • This gives the company scope to reshuffle production and make more for the local market if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on threats to impose tariffs of around 25% on vehicle imports.
    Victoria Waldersee, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Trump and Musk were pushing back on widespread chatter from both sides of the political spectrum that their political alliance could soon collapse, perhaps if Trump tires of Musk hogging the limelight or if his actions attract too much criticism.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Despite differing political approaches, one thing is clear: New Mexico is facing an urgent crisis, and leaders across the political spectrum will need to find common ground to prevent further loss of life while navigating around Trump's plans to carry out large-scale mass deportations.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • In the meantime, the operator said it’s making progress on its remediation plan, including analysis of other areas and additional in-line inspections.
    Joe Sutton, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023
  • The goal of this relationship is to save you time, trouble, and money down the line.
    Brady Slack, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • Most shares are bound to end up on the receiving end of judgment, and such is the case with home improvement guru Joanna Gaines, who recently posted a photo of herself on Instagram cooking on the stove, with her 6-year-old son, Crew, looking on.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Chop 9 green apples into large chunks and put into a pan on the stove over medium heat.
    Ashley J. DiMella Fox News, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The amount of high-energy radiation that filters in through the foliage can vary greatly between habitats, some of which are heavily shaded by leafy canopies, while others are more open and allow more sunlight in.
    Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Other concepts include Lunar Glass Structure, or LUNGS, which involves in-situ melting of lunar glass compounds and novel blowing techniques to make large, spherical habitats.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Previous assessments already painted a grim picture, with a third of sharks, rays, and chimaeras classified as threatened with extinction.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
  • The United States classified Hezbollah as a terror organization after the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut.
    Jane Arraf, NPR, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The legacy of the British Q-ships During World War I, more than 200 Q-ships—and perhaps as many as 400—roamed the seas.
    Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
  • As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about.
    Sarah Han, Allure, 16 Feb. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/range. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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