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 networks
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
Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Pope Leo's statement is one of many debates being had in religious circles about the implications of AI and how parishioners should or should not engage with the rapidly growing technology.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Once Ye-jin is an adult, the mother and daughter operate in similar circles.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 May 2026
It’s formulated to smooth, moisturize, and brighten stubborn dark circles and under-eye lines.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 May 2026
The move gives Jones another stamp of approval from a grassroots conservative network with deep ties to evangelical circles and a close alliance with Kemp.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 28 May 2026
Two questions about the wisdom of mandatory minimum sentences — a very contentious topic in legal circles — yielded only brief responses.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Nutmegging is an artistic maneuver that the most skilled players pull off effortlessly, leaving the opponent spinning around in circles.
—Ava Berger, NPR, 28 May 2026
The circumstances of Uribe’s resignation have been debated for weeks in local Democratic circles.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
One of Geneva Lake's main attractions is the public walking path, which circles the entire lake for over 20 miles.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
The issue circles back to the gigantic investment needed to mine that rich lode when the top names in tech are digging as well.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 May 2026
But even that comic tension threatens to rip as the painfully thin story repeatedly circles the same disputes without deepening them.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 May 2026
Most relied on the free shuttle that circles the valley floor.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
That process moves forward, then circles back, then moves again.
—Felysha Walker
may 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Enjoy a coffee break at The Lookout at Lake Poway before the group circles back.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
On Deck 10, furniture upholstered in La Rumba circles the main pool and an outdoor bar.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
Swayne, a native of Reno, was well known in local cycling circles.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Pope Leo's statement is one of many debates being had in religious circles about the implications of AI and how parishioners should or should not engage with the rapidly growing technology.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Once Ye-jin is an adult, the mother and daughter operate in similar circles.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 May 2026
It’s formulated to smooth, moisturize, and brighten stubborn dark circles and under-eye lines.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 May 2026
The move gives Jones another stamp of approval from a grassroots conservative network with deep ties to evangelical circles and a close alliance with Kemp.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 28 May 2026
Two questions about the wisdom of mandatory minimum sentences — a very contentious topic in legal circles — yielded only brief responses.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Nutmegging is an artistic maneuver that the most skilled players pull off effortlessly, leaving the opponent spinning around in circles.
—Ava Berger, NPR, 28 May 2026
The circumstances of Uribe’s resignation have been debated for weeks in local Democratic circles.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Verb
The book circles political concerns that remain relevant today, including empire, caste prejudice, and the dangers of despotism and corruption.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
One of Geneva Lake's main attractions is the public walking path, which circles the entire lake for over 20 miles.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
The issue circles back to the gigantic investment needed to mine that rich lode when the top names in tech are digging as well.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 May 2026
But even that comic tension threatens to rip as the painfully thin story repeatedly circles the same disputes without deepening them.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 May 2026
Most relied on the free shuttle that circles the valley floor.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
That process moves forward, then circles back, then moves again.
—Felysha Walker
may 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Enjoy a coffee break at The Lookout at Lake Poway before the group circles back.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
On Deck 10, furniture upholstered in La Rumba circles the main pool and an outdoor bar.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circles
Noun
-
Let the work breathe, then refine what rings true.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
In October, the feds announced a sweeping investigation into NBA point-shaving rings tied to the mafia.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Visitors staying at Cedar Pass Campground (reservations required) or Sage Creek Campground can wake up to panoramic sunrise views and spend their days exploring scenic trails, wildlife loops, and overlooks carved into the park’s rugged terrain.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
-
Robotic units integrated with barcode validation loops now incorporate computer vision models trained to classify pill shape, color, imprint, and packaging configuration.—
Ethan Stone
June 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
These networks are viewed with less enthusiasm in the age of streaming, because more consumers are abandoning their cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 June 2026
-
Most existing and proposed projects are clustered around major metropolitan areas where fiber-optic networks, power infrastructure and workforce needs can be met.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Democrats are putting faith in him to blaze a trail in the state after struggling electorally in recent cycles, hoping his message of unity will resonate with their fellow Iowans.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
Period underwear can be worn just like regular underwear, and washed in the laundry to be reused between menstruating days or cycles.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The 6th Congressional District, which mostly consists of areas in Sacramento and Placer counties, is supposed to be a safe blue seat under the new boundaries passed with Proposition 50.—
Mathew Miranda
June 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
The video and the SCE data offer proof that the 100-year-old line, which hadn’t been used since the early 1970s, became re-electrified and sparked the fire that killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena and surrounding areas, attorneys say.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
People infected with the less common species may also forgo the disease’s hallmark bullseye rash that surrounds the tick bite, Norris said.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
One of his missions is to end the stigma that still surrounds people with HIV.—
Joe Donlon,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
In the foreground, the hardware of the space station stands rigid in space, the station's solar panels extended as the outpost orbits hundreds of miles above Earth.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
-
Because the station orbits Earth once every 90 minutes, the crew on board sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Bloomberg’s calculations of the co-founders’ stakes rely on Pitchbook data and reporting about Anthropic’s previous funding rounds, and are adjusted to account for typical equity grants to nonfounding employees based on data from Carta.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
During the search, police said investigators allegedly seized 30 grams worth of fentanyl pills, 12 grams of crack cocaine, several digital scales, a BB gun, and two 9mm rounds of ammunition.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circles. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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