1
as in circling
to travel completely around
the first ship to circumnavigate the globe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bypassing
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 circumnavigating
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
Two hundred seventy-two miles of scenery are signposted by pretty blue and orange ribbons circumnavigating the island, representing the ocean and those ubiquitous mandarins.
—Gary Shteyngart, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2023
IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2026
Two hundred seventy-two miles of scenery are signposted by pretty blue and orange ribbons circumnavigating the island, representing the ocean and those ubiquitous mandarins.
—Gary Shteyngart, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigating
Verb
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Becket is broke, disowned and circling a family fortune that never wanted him.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
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The mission, known as Artemis 2, is due to send three Americans and one Canadian on a 10-day trip circling the moon.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hospitals themselves are sometimes bypassing safeguards that once governed the introduction of new medical technologies, says Nancy Hagans, nurse and president of the New York State Nurses Association.—
Hilke Schellmann,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
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Edin’s accusation was that Kennedy was bypassing the technology by touching the stone’s granite body instead.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Blackbird Mountain Guides group had spent three days traversing Castle Peak’s wild terrain and staying in huts near Donner Summit – an area that before 2020 was closed to the public for nearly a century.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Walking between buildings requires walking across sand and uneven surfaces, and traversing various stairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Republican state lawmakers opposed the measure, saying the Legislature was circumventing its process and abandoning transparency and accountability in order to funnel tax dollars to a political ally.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Leonard has one season left on his deal after this one, with uncertainty surrounding him in the league’s investigation into the Aspiration situation, in which Leonard and the Clippers are accused of circumventing the NBA’s salary-cap rules.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This is the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov, the fourth trip for Fincke, and the second for Yui, to the orbiting laboratory.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
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As time progresses, tidal forces between the stars can draw them closer, accelerating their precession and causing an orbiting planet's precession to slow.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to Ruby, seven of the 20 or so churches in G92, a Christian immigrant advocacy coalition in the city, are ready to offer physical sanctuary, though many are avoiding publicity for fear of harassment.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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To do so, Nguyen advises maintaining proper form, controlling the weight through the full range of motion and avoiding any movement that causes sudden pain.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Houseplant roots that are damaged, encircling, or severely overgrown can be pruned back slightly to rejuvenate the plant and free up space in the pot.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Feb. 2026
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The rehaut features deep-blue Tambour markings and modern numerals on a crisp white background, encircling a 24-hour GMT scale at a lower level.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That led to a 10-minute interruption at the Estadio da Luz, with referee Francois Letexier crossing his arms to signal that racist abuse had been reported by Vinicius.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Some are migrants, carrying passport stamps or refugee status, but crossing international borders is incidental to—rather than definitive of—what invisible exile means.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumnavigating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigating. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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