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
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Recent Examples of circumnavigate
The Chinese flotilla that circumnavigated Australia consisted of a replenishment ship, which supported two warships all the way.
—
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
The narrow route, first opened by the U.S. in 1914, allows cargo vessels to travel between the American continents rather than having to circumnavigate them, hugely reducing transit times and costs.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Collectively, the Riders have pedaled enough miles to circumnavigate the globe three times over.
—Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2025
Brisbane, Australia/Hong Kong CNN — Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australia’s coastline for more than three weeks, passing within 200 miles of Sydney, and staging unprecedented live-fire drills on its doorstep with New Zealand.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
The narrow route, first opened by the U.S. in 1914, allows cargo vessels to travel between the American continents rather than having to circumnavigate them, hugely reducing transit times and costs.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Collectively, the Riders have pedaled enough miles to circumnavigate the globe three times over.
—Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2025
Brisbane, Australia/Hong Kong CNN — Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australia’s coastline for more than three weeks, passing within 200 miles of Sydney, and staging unprecedented live-fire drills on its doorstep with New Zealand.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
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Weekends can get crowded, but weekdays are quieter, meaning the short, steep hikes to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park's most notable hill) will be less traversed.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
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Hundreds, if not thousands, of insect species most likely migrate, including dragonflies that cross the Indian Ocean, moths that traverse Australia and plant hoppers that windsurf through East Asia.—
Jesse Greenspan,
Scientific American,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Unlike Revere, who was known as a fierce revolutionary, Dawes might be able to bypass the checkpoint without raising suspicion.—
Ellen Wexler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Brewers bypassed Smith to add starting pitchers Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick while leaving a spot open.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His swirling, circling Ophüls-like camera movements and magenta-to-mauve tonal shifts create an atmosphere sensitive to morning-after regret.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Several of the words on the back have letters circled in red.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In 2025, anticipate a more surgical integration of AI with real-world systems, sparking innovation built on the increasingly sophisticated replication of agentic workloads, or else technology circumventing the need for AI altogether.—
Ruth Foxe Blader,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Lutnick said a comprehensive approach was needed so that small nations could not be used by larger countries to circumvent the tariffs.—
Douglas Gillison, Ted Hesson,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Four of those missions sent broadband satellites to orbit for LEO megaconstellations, and the other one lofted the European Space Agency's Biomass forest-monitoring satellite.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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Taking a defensive stance supported by company president Frank Borman, a former astronaut who commanded the first NASA mission to orbit the moon, the lawyers for Eastern and its insurance carriers tried to pin the blame on both the FAA and the four air-traffic controllers.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
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Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Of all the galaxies in this frame, one pair stands out in particular: a smooth golden galaxy encircled by a nearly complete ring at left.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2025
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For several hundred dollars, tour companies fly passengers high above the rivers that encircle the city, showcasing a stunning, bird’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center and other landmarks.—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Add to that a greater reluctance by those in the public and private sectors to cross Trump, wary of putting themselves and their organizations in the crosshairs of his administration.—
Mark K. Updegrove,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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Pakistan is now one step closer to joining the ranks of countries that have eliminated MNT, with only 10 nations left to cross the finish line.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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