Definition of circumnavigatenext
1
as in to traverse
to travel completely around the first ship to circumnavigate the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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 Superpressure balloons can last for months and travel long distances, potentially circumnavigating the globe, all the while reporting their position. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2026 Learn about the native flora and fauna at the Seaside Nature Center, or borrow a free bike and cycle the Bike Loop trail that circumnavigates the park. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026 Ko Samui is the third-largest island in the country but remains small enough to be circumnavigated in just a couple of hours by motorbike or car, making neighboring locations easy to access. Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025 The 16th-century adventurer, who first circumnavigated the globe by sea in 1522, wavers beneath the pressure of his pursuit, ultimately leading his men to mutiny and madness on the Malay Archipelago. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
  • Or, if shopping isn’t your preferred vacation activity, take the bike to the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and traverse on Palm Beach Lake Trail, a bike- and pedestrian-friendly path that abuts the water’s edge that is lined with docked yachts.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Located in the Willamette National Forest, the area is remote and difficult to traverse, prompting a request for search-and-rescue teams.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • When restaurants and hotels bypass local wine, money leaves the community.
    Maryam Ahmed, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The stadium will instead likely rely on a constellation of local and state administrative tools, bypassing voter approval at the ballot box.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • News of his involvement comes following our story yesterday on McCarthy circling the project.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Onboard anti-collision alarms sounded in both cockpits and both planes circled the airport before making safe landings.
    Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Sales agents can circumvent those fees, requesting them from the seller directly, or a third party document site.
    Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The leak caused consternation from department brass, Moers alleged, who were not happy that his commission had circumvented proper channels to receive emergency funding.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The rover currently exploring Mars’ ancient river delta and a mission to orbit Venus are among projects with JPL involvement targeted for spending cuts, according to an analysis of the NASA budget proposal by the nonprofit Planetary Society.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
  • 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, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who sits on the Housing and Homelessness Committee, said Friday the recommendations are intended to better align the city’s homelessness response with local needs while avoiding service disruptions and improving long-term coordination.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The country's National News Agency reported airstrikes and artillery shelling throughout southern Lebanon on Wednesday, including near Bint Jbeil, where Israeli forces have encircled Hezbollah fighters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The country’s National News Agency reported airstrikes and artillery shelling throughout southern Lebanon on Wednesday, include near Bint Jbeil, where Israeli forces have encircled fighters with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
    Samy Magdy, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Ott crossed his arms, holding them against his chest, watching Game 1 of this Western Conference playoff first-round series unfold.
    Doug Haller, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The robot smashed the course in Beijing's E-Town economic and technological development zone on Sunday, April 19, crossing the finish line in 50 minutes and 26 seconds.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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