1
as in direction
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in scope
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
within the compass of my voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in perimeter
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something
within the compass of the city walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to accomplish
to carry through (as a process) to completion
attempting more than his modest abilities could compass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to circle
to travel completely around
the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth
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3
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king
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4
5
as in to know
to have a clear idea of
the concept that the earth is billions of years old is one that the average mind struggles to compass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compass
Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
That belief is my compass through uncertainty.
—W. Jeff Williams, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
At its best, McCarthy’s fiction could compass the strange and often violent order of existence.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for compass
Noun
The latter can alternate between a conventional watch face, a chronograph, a compass, and the car’s launch-control indicator.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
That belief is my compass through uncertainty.
—W. Jeff Williams, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
The wind sighs: Save me, Lord, for the waters have compassed my soul.
—Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
At its best, McCarthy’s fiction could compass the strange and often violent order of existence.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for compass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compass
Noun
-
Trump’s direction of the hospital ship to Greenland comes shortly after NATO began boosting its defense in the Arctic, largely conducting military drills.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The publication’s top editors are jockeying for the editor-in-chief role, a powerful position at a magazine where the writers, rather than the business side, traditionally control the direction of the enterprise.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The county asserts that the cities should have been aware of the general scope of the increase since the extension of the contract two years ago – pointing out recent shifts in city leadership.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
This biographical documentary about photographer/activist Nan Goldin is epic in scope but intimate in its themes.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Mexican troops established a perimeter around the complex and then closed in.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The college has many buildings on the park’s perimeter and nearby.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That bill is designed to address all 50 of the recommendations the NTSB made — not just the locator technology, but NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy has said the House bill falls short of accomplishing that.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
There’s all kinds of data about what passer rushers with sub–31-inch arm lengths have accomplished, and haven’t in the NFL for the past two decades.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Smartphone makers have over the years gradually infused software with more AI tools—like the ability to search for something just by circling it on screen or erasing unwanted objects from photos.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Padres’ Jase Bowen circled the bases.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Although both twins are suspected of conspiring to plot the double murder, the DNA on an assault rifle used in one of the later gun battles could only be from one of them.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
22 Feb. 2026
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Incensed, Oseguera plotted revenge in 2009 and 2010 with others who were unhappy with Milenio’s new leadership and spearheaded a deadly coup.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Accessibility All of the dining venues and wellness facilities (including the yoga and fitness pavilions and spa treatment rooms) are accessible from within the first floor of the Estate House and the surrounding grounds; the Estate House, along with the Casitas, offer ADA rooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Likewise, the reputation of invincibility surrounding Russia’s vast military has also been dented.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The group also used signals from what's known as an avalanche beacon, which allows skiers to send radio signals so they can be tracked by first responders.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Our Local Group — like all galaxy groups and galaxy clusters — will experience this, eventually creating a super-galaxy known as Milkdromeda.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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