CIRCUMNAVIGATE Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

circumnavigate

verb

ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgāt

Definition of circumnavigate

as in to traverse

to travel completely around the first ship to circumnavigate the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to bypass

to avoid by going around we can circumnavigate the traffic jam if we take the next exit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of circumnavigate The first Global Ocean Sampling Expedition, which used Venter’s own yacht, circumnavigated the globe between 2005 and 2006. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026 The Apollo 8 photo, however, showed Earth reemerging into view, rather than disappearing, as astronauts Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell circumnavigated the moon. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026 During the 1969 Apollo 10 mission — the one in which Thomas Stafford, John Young and Eugene Cernan circumnavigated the moon — Stafford reported back to mission control on Day 6 of the mission that a piece of waste was floating through the cabin, according to once-confidential government documents. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026 Is there a market for a live-aboard cruise ship that will visit 140 countries and circumnavigate the world? — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate

Verb

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to its lowest level in weeks, with just 22 ships traversing the passage and some reportedly switching off their transponders to avoid detection, Bloomberg reported.

— Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 July 2026
The ride traverses nearly 1,000 miles across Indiana over 13 days, stopping in communities to meet with survivors, those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty, and visit memorials and gravesites.

— Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026

Definition of traverse

Verb

That waterway has taken on new significance since the start of the war, as Saudi Arabia now diverts millions of barrels of crude there to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
An industry-wide standard Microsoft invented to protect Windows, and later Linux, devices from firmware infections has been trivial to bypass for 13 of its 14 years of existence.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026

Definition of bypass

Verb

Tour du Mont Blanc circles the highest mountain in the Alps, spanning France, Switzerland and Italy.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Potential contenders including former health chief Nirav Shah and ex-Senate president Troy Jackson are circling, while disillusioned voters liken Platner’s exit to Democrats’ last-minute scramble to replace Joe Biden.

— Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of circle

Verb

Kawhi Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors is on hold pending the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented salary-cap rules, the teams announced Thursday.

— Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
The lawsuit also references several actions taken by board members that Obeng characterized as circumventing his authority.

— Ilana Arougheti July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Definition of circumvent

Verb

After Betts’ single allowed the Dodgers to take the lead, Tanner Scott (13) shut down the Rockies with back-to-back strikeouts, avoiding the team’s eighth series loss of the season.

— Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

Eustaquio chooses to cross into a central area and Bosnia clear the ball, but the idea — to draw opponents out and create an overload in one area — was sound.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The message of the Corcoran cancellation was that crossing some undefined line of decency gave the government license to come after you.

— Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Definition of cross

Browse Nearby Words

circumlocutory

circumnavigate

circumnavigated

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Style

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of circumnavigate

verb

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