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 Enchanted Circle Drive The Enchanted Circle Drive circumnavigates Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico, and cuts through the lush Hondo Valley, past the Taos Pueblo, and into old gold mining towns. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025 In the winter of 1999, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and British flight instructor Brian Jones embark on an attempt to complete the last great aviation challenge of the 20th century – to circumnavigate the globe, nonstop in a hot-air balloon. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025 And joining the Apollo 13 crew after having first served on Apollo 8, which intentionally circumnavigated the moon but did not land on its surface, made Lovell the first human ever to see the moon up close for a second time. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025 In other words, without leaving the roadways of California’s capital city, 11 vehicles traveled far enough to circumnavigate the earth two and a half times, or a quarter of the way to the moon. Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
  • Even light, which zipped at breathtaking pace across the dark, took many human lifetimes to traverse a single galaxy.
    Angus Fletcher, Big Think, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Trails have suffered erosion, so take care while traversing them.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In that window, developers filed 25 builder’s remedy applications (22 of which are still in process)—projects that can bypass local zoning.
    Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The deep-water port will allow large Chinese cargo and energy ships to bypass the Strait of Malacca, the narrow waterway between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore through which China conducts two-thirds of its maritime trade and imports 80 percent of its oil.
    Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Directors are already circling the chronicle of the adventures of Ken Kesey after the release of his first novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, which became a Best Picture winning classic film released 50 years ago.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
  • News broke from Deadline at the Zurich Summit on September 27 that Hollywood talent agents have been quietly circling Norwood for representation.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For instance, a land swap between the oil company and Emmett County, may have allowed the company to circumvent a thorough historic review, even part of the land held historic cultural significance.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The company previously created the chip to circumvent prior restrictions on AI chip exports instituted under the Biden administration due to national security concerns.
    Samantha Subin,Chris Eudaily, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And unlike Earth, SIMP-0136 doesn't orbit its own sun.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
  • In 1921 Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara theorized that two vortices spinning through fluid (which is exactly what tropical cyclones are) could come close enough to each other to begin orbiting a common central point.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Keep your shoulders relaxed and engage your core to avoid arching your back.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Which cruise lines changed itineraries to avoid Hurricane Humberto, other weather?
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When the temperature begins to cool and the leaves start to shift, hop in your car and take on the 84-mile Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, which encircles New Mexico's highest peak and delivers a stunning array of fall foliage.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
  • As of Thursday noon, the fire crew successfully encircled the entire perimeter of the fire in control lines.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Coffee and conversation Rhode Island is a state drivers can cross in an hour.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The line, to be clear, was crossed time and time again.
    Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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