1
2
as in loops
a circular strip
a decorative circle of silver on the rim of the commemorative plate for their 25th wedding anniversary
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in communities
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially
got together with her social circle once a week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cycles
a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order
with the birth of a child coming so soon after the death of a grandparent, we were once again reminded of the circle of life
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in areas
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence
that lies outside the circle of our investigation
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in surrounds
to form a circle around
everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in orbits
to travel completely around
with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of circles
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Maduro is isolated, both within his circles and internationally.
—Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
The rule dates back to the 19th century and was founded by old-money circles in the Northeast to differentiate themselves from the nouveau riche trying to infiltrate the social elite.
—Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Still pregnant with her son at the time, the billboard immediately struck the public as transgressive, revolutionary—and in some circles, inappropriate.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025
But for Lowell, a fixture in Washington legal circles for decades, fighting a presidential administration's attempt to exert control over federal regulators is nothing new.
—Erin Doherty, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Picture concentric circles, with behavior and identity on the outer ring—most visible and easiest to adjust—and motives at the bullseye, often invisible even to leaders themselves.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
There is a bit of cynicism in online circles about Johnson readying an awards campaign after a series of blockbusters that underperformed, but that should dissolve when more people see the film.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
There are going to be multiple circles and music is going to be playing for about 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
His falcon still circles, but the sky above Gaza offers no axis, no return path, no center to descend toward, only a deepening orbit around an absence no language can fill.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
The route starts in West Haven and circles the outer towns of the state first, then spirals in.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
The requirement that an agency employee supervise night operations is impractical when that employee is flying a plane, which circles thousands of feet above helicopters and has limited visibility into what’s going on below, some of the county chiefs said.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
The 17-year-old is now a figurehead in young adult literary circles through their book club, Read with Raegan, and partnerships with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Maduro is isolated, both within his circles and internationally.
—Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
The rule dates back to the 19th century and was founded by old-money circles in the Northeast to differentiate themselves from the nouveau riche trying to infiltrate the social elite.
—Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Still pregnant with her son at the time, the billboard immediately struck the public as transgressive, revolutionary—and in some circles, inappropriate.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025
But for Lowell, a fixture in Washington legal circles for decades, fighting a presidential administration's attempt to exert control over federal regulators is nothing new.
—Erin Doherty, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Picture concentric circles, with behavior and identity on the outer ring—most visible and easiest to adjust—and motives at the bullseye, often invisible even to leaders themselves.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
There is a bit of cynicism in online circles about Johnson readying an awards campaign after a series of blockbusters that underperformed, but that should dissolve when more people see the film.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
There are going to be multiple circles and music is going to be playing for about 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
Location and orbit revealed The team calculated that the moon circles Uranus about 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) from the planet’s center.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
His falcon still circles, but the sky above Gaza offers no axis, no return path, no center to descend toward, only a deepening orbit around an absence no language can fill.
—Alaa Alqaisi
august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
The route starts in West Haven and circles the outer towns of the state first, then spirals in.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
The requirement that an agency employee supervise night operations is impractical when that employee is flying a plane, which circles thousands of feet above helicopters and has limited visibility into what’s going on below, some of the county chiefs said.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circles
Noun
-
It's got two magnetic rings on one end that attach to the back of your iPhone case smoothly, the leaker says.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The final look included Rachel Comey heeled boots, the secondhand Emporio Armani suit, the white dress shirt with French cuffs, silk cufflinks, a silver tie pin, secondhand silver rings, and her grandmother's hand-me-down Peugeot watch.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dopamine loops from social media, games, and constant notifications have reduced their tolerance for boredom, focus and real-world interaction.—
Elan Gepner-Dales,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Repetition and reflective practice shows that tight feedback loops sharpen those signals through continuous adjustment.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
With support from the ADG Community Journalism Project, LEARNS reporter Josh Snyder covers the impact of the law on the K-12 education system across the state, and its effect on teachers, students, parents and communities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Sep. 2025
-
With better smoke tracking, communities and agencies could respond faster to wildfire threats and reduce health impacts from airborne particles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The youth organization received funding from the Homewards Fund to expand its services for local young people, helping to break the cycles of exclusion and unemployment.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
For so long, our dreams—and the time spent reaching them—have caught us in cycles of false promise.—
Alice Lassman,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And Danielson noted that the team now has plenty of time to practice and give attention to areas of concern.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Williams played decently well, but there are plenty of areas that need to improve for the Bears next week.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Kaufman-esque sequence that chases an ever-balding Mike through his movie roles and towards his destiny is great fun to watch, but ultimately calls our attention to the relative torpor that surrounds it.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The collapse continues until a luminous sphere surrounds a dense core that is hot enough to sustain nuclear fusion.—
Luke Keller,
Space.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Earth orbits the sun at an angle, so in the northern hemisphere, where the United States is, Earth is tilted toward the sun during summer and away during winter, while the southern hemisphere is experiencing the opposite.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
-
As Earth orbits the Sun, our perspective of the galaxy changes throughout the year.—
Harry Bennett,
Space.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
By 2020, top Asian VCs were leading billion-dollar valuation rounds for AI, fintech and healthtech companies.—
Rich Karlgaard,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Buy before his price rises multiple rounds.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circles. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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