1
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
that company is the cynosure for anyone wishing to make it in the music business
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynosure
The former played the role of cynosure for the neophytes of the new high society, the latter remaining the bastion of genteel estates and social exclusivity.
—
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
From these beginnings, the Voice grew into a cynosure of the counterculture.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
It will be called the Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital Fund.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
From these beginnings, the Voice grew into a cynosure of the counterculture.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
It will be called the Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital Fund.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynosure
Noun
-
Its only compass is artistic excellence.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
As for steering a buggy to the Artemis base, compasses don’t work on the moon, and dust will adhere to optics, so NASA has pioneered plans to use Earth’s Galileo and GPS satellites to navigate.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
At that time, around 200 public hospitals, along with federally qualified health centers, were eligible for 340B pricing.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
During the next three weeks, mobile internet was impeded or shut off in the center of Moscow.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
His own aspirations have pulled him in several directions.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The team used high-resolution satellite images taken before and after the event to reconstruct the shape and geometry of the slide, as well as its axis and direction.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Once regarded as a mecca for luxury shopping, drawing visitors from across Chicagoland to experience a level of polish few suburban malls could hope to surpass, Northbrook Court today is something akin to a retail wasteland.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Houston is a mecca for high-calorie delicious meals.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For all intents and purposes, the bulk of the offseason acquisition for the Dallas Cowboys is wrapped up.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
-
The board’s ouster comes amid a purge of independent scientific and research groups whose purpose is to advise the federal government’s science and health policies.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge had six nights off between Games 1 and 2 of their series, with Game 2 taking place Friday night in Canada’s capital.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
Christopher Cann Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said in a public address that a strike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed a high-ranking Hezbollah commander.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Later in the day, the menu shifts to a more international focus.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
-
In 2027, the focus shifts south to Andalucía.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Travellers flying in or out of the hub ogled the spectacle, a display of sudden corporate collapse.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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