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
Jason Phillips, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
The best eye creams for mature skin present a triple threat, addressing fine lines, dryness, and dark circles.
—Tracy Perez Han, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
The discovery surfaced on X and quickly spread across cybersecurity circles.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Priests draped in bright saffron robes and red sweaters lit fires and incense, and swung large brass oil lamps in slow circles, creating flickering rings of golden light that popped against the fading sky.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
The book sold more than 2 million copies and became a sensation in policy circles.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Two other names floated in Republican circles include Brattin and Gregory, two state legislators in the Missouri Senate.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Stern is a highly regarded in the industry as a business leader who has long been active in the industry’s social and philanthropic circles.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Today, in some circles, it’s actually considered offensive.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
But this award, which was inaugurated in 2023 with a Jesso win, circles the same handful of writers, and country scribes like Jessie Jo Dillon, pop bards like Amy Allen, and reggaeton men-at-arms like Edgar Barrera are just as up next.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Astronomers have spotted an Earth-sized planet that circles its star every 355 days–and might be in its system’s habitable zone.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
An Army-green helicopter routinely circles overhead alongside several smaller drones.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Pisces February 19 – March 20 Soft encouragement circles your friendships and hopes.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026
For all the talk that circles the retail industry about AI’s promise, the fact is that Americans still fear job loss and replacement because of AI.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 Dec. 2025
The sprawling west-bank complex, with seating areas tucked around the winding gardens and a slim white cat that circles the breakfast tables with palpable hopefulness, was originally created by the indomitable Zeina Aboukheir, an Italian Lebanese designer.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Noun
Equally important is the brand’s standing within elite professional and social circles, built through discretion, delivery, and repeat trust rather than visibility alone.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
The best eye creams for mature skin present a triple threat, addressing fine lines, dryness, and dark circles.
—Tracy Perez Han, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026
The discovery surfaced on X and quickly spread across cybersecurity circles.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Priests draped in bright saffron robes and red sweaters lit fires and incense, and swung large brass oil lamps in slow circles, creating flickering rings of golden light that popped against the fading sky.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
The book sold more than 2 million copies and became a sensation in policy circles.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Two other names floated in Republican circles include Brattin and Gregory, two state legislators in the Missouri Senate.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Stern is a highly regarded in the industry as a business leader who has long been active in the industry’s social and philanthropic circles.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Today, in some circles, it’s actually considered offensive.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
As the camera circles the car, two other portions of Kennedy’s speech play in the background.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
But this award, which was inaugurated in 2023 with a Jesso win, circles the same handful of writers, and country scribes like Jessie Jo Dillon, pop bards like Amy Allen, and reggaeton men-at-arms like Edgar Barrera are just as up next.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Astronomers have spotted an Earth-sized planet that circles its star every 355 days–and might be in its system’s habitable zone.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
An Army-green helicopter routinely circles overhead alongside several smaller drones.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Pisces February 19 – March 20 Soft encouragement circles your friendships and hopes.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026
For all the talk that circles the retail industry about AI’s promise, the fact is that Americans still fear job loss and replacement because of AI.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 Dec. 2025
The sprawling west-bank complex, with seating areas tucked around the winding gardens and a slim white cat that circles the breakfast tables with palpable hopefulness, was originally created by the indomitable Zeina Aboukheir, an Italian Lebanese designer.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circles
Noun
-
The design, based on an official poster for the Games, depicts the Olympic rings and a golden statue of a muscular man crowned in laurels next to a chariot of horses atop Berlin’s Brandenburg Gates.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Taxpayers and the kids who rely on SNAP both deserve a system that works for them — not for fraud rings.—
John Deaton,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But responsibility diffuses across developers, deployers, and users, and interaction loops remain private and unobservable.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
-
E-commerce product images show a new Nike Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble outfitted with the Neon style’s familiar highlighter-like Air units and lace loops, but with some key updates that make the look more eye-catching than ever.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Federal agencies halted overdose-surveillance networks, delayed youth smoking data, scaled back food-safety pathogen monitoring and purged transgender health information from websites.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Colbert and Talarico have said that their interview was not allowed to air because of the enforcement of the FCC’s equal time rule, a rule that requires broadcast networks to grant equal time to opposing candidates running for the same office.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The resulting surface maintained superomniphobicity at up to 400% strain and through more than 5,000 stretch cycles.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The county had already faced several tough budget cycles in recent years due to slow property tax revenue growth and ballooning labor costs before the recent cuts to the federal Medicaid program further stressed the county’s coffers.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From 2021 to 2024 enrollment growth in the county’s wealthiest areas was triple that in the poorest.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One of the biggest ethical concerns surrounds reproduction.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Your memory will be a ray of light piercing the darkness that surrounds us right now as authoritarian drums beat loudly and threaten the civil rights of Americans.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the sun, according to NASA.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Vonn underwent four rounds of surgery in Italy following the crash before flying back to the United States.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
-
After seven rounds the embryo consists of a ball of 128 tiny cells with a hollow space in the center.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circles. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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