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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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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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
One-year leases remain unchanged with a range of 1.75% to 4.75%. Téa Kvetenadze, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025 The former screen actor also had to learn over time how to use just her voice to convey a range of complex human emotions. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
Estimated appointment wait times at U.S. embassies worldwide currently range from days to months—a backlog of appointments or more intensive vetting could extend that. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 May 2025 But the cost of building new schools can range from $50 million to more than $100 million, based on recent contracts and estimates in South Florida school districts. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for range
Recent Examples of Synonyms for range
Noun
  • Our trek began at Saint Bees, surrounded by green pastures, rocky beaches, and light brown bluffs.
    Mike Nolan, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
  • Farmers can no longer irrigate their crops, and shepherds can no longer reach their pastures.
    Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • His role, while technically unpaid and temporary, grew in both scope and influence—often bypassing traditional bureaucratic channels.
    Nik Popli, Time, 30 May 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • At the opposite spectrum of the sombre tone and palette of Ritual of the Ancestors and Rites of Passage are a pair of sensual canvases titled Adoration of the Earth which depict a naked woman languishing in a field of dancing sunflowers.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Despite the White House’s claims that the bill would be deficit neutral, budget experts across the ideological spectrum project the bill to add even more to the $36 trillion national debt.
    Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • The goal of this relationship is to save you time, trouble, and money down the line.
    Brady Slack, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
  • 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
Noun
  • The kitchenette comes with a stove, a sink, and cabinets to store your kitchen essentials.
    Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • Nobody wants to be hanging out over a hot stove in the middle of a Southern heatwave.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Hunting, overfishing, habitat destruction, human encroachment, and invasive species introductions are the major drivers of the losses incurred thus far.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 29 May 2025
  • In subsequent decades, the persistence of overfishing, habitat loss and poor water quality threatened to eliminate the species entirely.
    Benjamin Cassidy, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Our writers picked a few obvious candidates (anytime Lamar Jackson-Patrick Mahomes clash in any year classifies as must-see).
    Dan Pompei, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Based on double-occupancy stateroom bookings, groups typically need to have a minimum of five to eight cabins to be classified as a group.
    Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Those two have scheduled meet and greets, but other characters like The Invisible Man and Ygor roam throughout Dark Universe.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The refrigerator was not cold enough and two cats roamed the shop, violating state food code.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Range.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/range. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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