1
as in surrounded
to form a circle around
everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in orbited
to travel completely around
with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circled
Which neighborhood is being circled by ICE, which neighbor is being yanked from their house and needs observers documenting ASAP!
—
Angela Pelster, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Two helicopters circled overhead.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Those who previewed the Men’s Doubles draw circled a round of 32 match to watch for, Julian Arnold & Martin Emmrich versus Tyler Loong & Brandon French.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
These two teams have circled each other since the Rams won the NFC West last winter based off a tiebreaker, denying Seattle the opportunity to play for a postseason spot before their Week 18 matchup.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
Helicopters circled the area as the investigation continued.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The two circled the police vehicle, exchanging gunfire.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Chants and signs denounced some of the administration’s policies, including those on immigration, as about 200 protesters took to the sidewalk and circled around the County Administration Center.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
About a year after the Warners incorporated their company in 1923, acquisition rumors circled.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Angela Pelster, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Two helicopters circled overhead.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Those who previewed the Men’s Doubles draw circled a round of 32 match to watch for, Julian Arnold & Martin Emmrich versus Tyler Loong & Brandon French.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
These two teams have circled each other since the Rams won the NFC West last winter based off a tiebreaker, denying Seattle the opportunity to play for a postseason spot before their Week 18 matchup.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
Helicopters circled the area as the investigation continued.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The two circled the police vehicle, exchanging gunfire.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Chants and signs denounced some of the administration’s policies, including those on immigration, as about 200 protesters took to the sidewalk and circled around the County Administration Center.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
About a year after the Warners incorporated their company in 1923, acquisition rumors circled.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circled
Verb
-
Saint Ann’s, an elite private school that charges roughly $60,000 a year in tuition and is known for high Ivy League acceptance rates and attendees that include celebrities, artists and Wall Street executives, has been surrounded by scandal for nearly two years.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The makeshift detention center, surrounded by chain-link fences, had detainees sleeping on brown bunk beds under bright, perpetual fluorescent lights.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some 350 light-years away, the V1298 Tau system features an infant sun-like star, just 23 million years old, orbited by four planets on compact orbits close to their star, and all of which are seen to transit.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Per The Monroe News, all three women are credited with working on the 1962 Friendship 7 mission, during which astronaut Glenn orbited the Earth, settling the score with the Soviets, who had accomplished the feat roughly one year prior.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Within moments, a small crowd of counter-protesters encircled him.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The young woman’s remains were found encircled by about 10 dingoes, Australia's native wild dogs, on the beach north of Maheno Wreck, Wide Bay District Inspector Paul Algie previously announced in a press conference.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As part of the demonstration, the G1 traversed a snowfield while autonomously tracing the outline of a Winter Olympics emblem measuring approximately 186 metres by 100 metres.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
-
But even across the EP’s brief 18 minutes, Hunt makes clear that there are still corners in this world ripe for discovery, mysterious doorways looming in the landscape, waiting to be traversed.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The heart of East Troy is Village Square Park, anchored by a brick WPA-era bandstand and ringed with mature trees, indie storefronts, classic diners, and appealing restaurants.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
13 Jan. 2026
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The cross, made of guayacán wood and ringed with precious metals, stands about eight feet tall and is believed to have been discovered, as if by a miracle, in a nearby cave in 1868.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Djokovic crossed paths with Alcaraz between the five-set semifinals and commended him on pushing through.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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On December 25th, shortly after Binance announced its first giveaway, World Liberty announced that USD1’s volume had crossed three billion dollars.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Blind Rhino in Norwalk rounded out the top three.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The jury is rounded out by Min Bahadur Bham, whose film Shambhala was the first Nepali title to compete for the Golden Bear in 2024, and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the founder of India’s Film Heritage Foundation.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circled. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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