Thesaurus
compass
Synonyms and Antonyms of compass
1 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 cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar (also loadstar), polestar Related Words benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick; aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target
2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends within the compass of my voice Synonyms ambit, amplitude, breadth, range, confines, dimension(s), extent, reach, realm, scope, sweep, widthRelated Words gamut, spectrum, spread; bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain; frontier; horizon, panorama
3 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something within the compass of the city walls Synonyms borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, border, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, vergeRelated Words ambit; brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip; ceiling, maximum; demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination; borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage; lap; shoreNear Antonyms center, core, heart; inner, inside, interior, middle, within
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
compass
Synonyms and Antonyms of compass
1 to carry through (as a process) to completion attempting more than his modest abilities could compass Synonyms accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, perform, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put throughRelated Words bring about, effect, effectuate, implement; ace, nail; engage (in), practice (also practise); work (at); reduplicate, reenact, repeat; actualize, attain, realize; complete, end, finish, wind upNear Antonyms fail; skimp, slight, slur
2 to travel completely around the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth Synonyms circle, circuit, circumnavigate, circumvent, encircle, girdle, orbit, ring, roundRelated Words circumambulate, cross, perambulate, traverse
3 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king Synonyms collude, plot, connive, conspire, contrive, intrigue, machinate, put up, schemeRelated Words counterplot; brew, concoct, cook (up), devise, hatch; engineer, jockey, maneuver, manipulate; design, frame, lay out, map, plan, shape
4 to form a circle around a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas Synonyms circle, surround, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, wreatheRelated Words circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall; beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm
5 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 appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understandRelated Words absorb, digest, take in; realize; fathom, penetrate, pierceNear Antonyms misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstandAntonyms miss
Learn More about compass
-
Dictionary: Definition of compass Spanish Central: Translation of compass Nglish: Translation of compass for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of compass for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compass
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up compass? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!