Synonyms of circles

circles 1 of 2

noun

plural of circle

1

as in rings

something with a perfectly round circumference

a circle of columns surrounds the memorial to the fallen heroes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rings
• rounds
• orbs
• roundels
• ovals
• loops
• cirques
• spheres
• ellipses
• balls
• ringlets
• circlets
• globes

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

• loops
• hoops
• rings
• bands
• rounds
• belts
• wreaths
• eyes
• coils
• spirals
• collars
• curls
• girdles
• whorls
• cinctures
• spires
• twirls
• hanks
• annulets
• beckets
• furls

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

• networks
• communities
• cliques
• crowds
• bunches
• packs
• folds
• clans
• gangs
• organizations
• coteries
• rings
• bodies
• clubs
• covens
• lots
• sets
• communes
• tribes
• societies
• galères
• guilds
• klatches
• factions
• elites
• in-groups
• sides
• colleges
• fraternities
• camps
• leagues
• squads
• brotherhoods
• sects
• coalitions
• fellowships
• charmed circles
• blocs
• sororities
• closed shops
• federations
• unions
• alliances
• messes
• confederations
• sisterhoods
• councils
• congresses
• sodalities
• orders

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• individualists
• loners

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

• cycles
• rounds
• patterns
• wheels
• series
• progressions
• syndromes
• runs
• merry-go-rounds
• chains
• zodiacs
• developments
• rotations
• loops
• sequences
• rings
• courses
• circuits
• strings
• revolutions
• beats
• successions
• trains
• turns
• turnovers

5

as in areas

a region of activity, knowledge, or influence

that lies outside the circle of our investigation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• areas
• spheres
• realms
• domains
• departments
• walks
• fields
• kingdoms
• elements
• provinces
• terrains
• specialties
• disciplines
• territories
• arenas
• fronts
• games
• precincts
• businesses
• studies
• lines
• confines
• subjects
• fiefs
• fiefdoms
• bailiwicks
• firmaments
• pursuits
• baronies
• professions
• frontiers
• demesnes
• dimensions
• scopes
• occupations
• reaches
• vocations
• widths
• compasses
• sweeps
• rackets
• breadths
• amplitudes
• subfields
• extents
• turfs
• ambits
• subspecialties
• kens

circles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of circle

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

• surrounds
• encircles
• rings
• encompasses
• environs
• embraces
• encloses
• walls
• wreathes
• girdles
• compasses
• girds
• fences (in)
• circumscribes
• hems (in)
• closes in
• swarms
• entrenches
• besets
• besieges
• cordons (off)
• invests

2

as in orbits

to travel completely around

with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• orbits
• rings
• traverses
• encircles
• circuits
• rounds
• crosses
• circumvents
• girdles
• circumnavigates
• compasses
• circumambulates
• perambulates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of circles

Noun

Such ideas about the wonders of the free market are fairly standard within libertarian-conservative circles. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

While California produced President Reagan — a hero on the right who as governor frequently sparred with UC Berkeley, as Dillon does today — the state has now become, in conservative circles, a symbol of everything wrong in America. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Co-chair Emily Ladau, a disability rights activist, communications strategist and author, framed the committee's work around a phrase long used as a rallying cry in disability advocacy circles. — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

After the shooting, the victim’s car was seen on surveillance footage driving in slow circles as federal agents appeared to try and stop the vehicle. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Use your hands to manually stretch the big toe back, forward, and in small circles. — Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026

As something of a last resort, Pettifor sent a post to a closed Facebook page, run by somebody who, in his words, had connections to the circles men like Reader moved in. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 17 July 2026

The finding connects tooth health to the same cellular aging science already popular in skincare and joint health circles. — Allison Palmer july 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026

As darkness settled over Washington Square Park, supporters formed circles, waved Ghanaian flags and continued singing Jama into the evening. — Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

Verb

But the finale sets up a world-changing cliffhanger that circles the plot back to Louis and Armand vying for Lestat’s music box and blood in the premiere. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Tour du Mont Blanc circles the highest mountain in the Alps, spanning France, Switzerland and Italy. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

The gas giant circles its star at an unexpectedly close distance—about 50 times nearer than the Earth’s orbit around the sun. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026

Chapter 1 Randy Fields stalks through the newsroom, circles my desk and sits across from me. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026

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

Phrases Containing circles

• run circles around