compass 1 of 2

noun

Definition of compassnext
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

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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

compass

2 of 2

verb

ˈkəm-pəs How to pronounce compass (audio)
1
as in to accomplish
to carry through (as a process) to completion attempting more than his modest abilities could compass

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to surround
to form a circle around a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas

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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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun compass differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of compass are gamut, orbit, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When is gamut a more appropriate choice than compass?

While the synonyms gamut and compass are close in meaning, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When is it sensible to use orbit instead of compass?

In some situations, the words orbit and compass are roughly equivalent. However, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

Where would range be a reasonable alternative to compass?

The meanings of range and compass largely overlap; however, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

When could scope be used to replace compass?

The words scope and compass can be used in similar contexts, but scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

In what contexts can sweep take the place of compass?

Although the words sweep and compass have much in common, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

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 compass
Noun
The Inuit found gold and silver watches, compasses, kitchen utensils, and books and papers scattered across sites associated with the expedition. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025 Instead, three real analog gauges take its place, showing you the outside air temperature, a clock, and a compass. —ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025
Verb
The wind sighs: Save me, Lord, for the waters have compassed my soul. —Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 Abigail Jackson The adjacent dining area is dedicated to family heirlooms like a set of Allan Gould compass chairs from Kate’s interior designer grandmother and a red vintage rug from her great-grandparents. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for compass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compass
  1. direction
  2. scope
  3. perimeter
  4. circle
  5. plot
  6. surround
  7. know
  8. extent
Noun
  • His regular-season numbers are astonishing, but so are his postseason stats… in the opposite direction.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
  • Holden praised Indicator, citing their focused direction and curation.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 June 2025
Definition of direction
Noun
  • The trial took place one month before the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling expanding the scope of presidential immunity, and Trump's lawyers have argued that the evidence would have not been permitted based on the high court's ruling.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 May 2025
  • Direct File is still limited in scope, and may be on its way out, casting taxpayers back into the jungle of for-profit tax preparation software.
    — Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Definition of scope
Noun
  • As of Wednesday morning, the fire crew successfully encircled the entire perimeter of the fire in control lines.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • And as new media continues to redefine film, that diversity extends to the cinematic perimeters of projects on this year’s lineup, which includes visual albums from Miley Cyrus (Something Beautiful), Slick Rick (Victory) and Turnstile (Never Enough).
    — Joe Lynch, Billboard, 4 June 2025
Definition of perimeter
Verb
  • Right Now And don’t skip a walk around the city walls—a 1.2-mile stretch circling the Old Town.
    — Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Union demonstrators demanding passage of the bill greeted lawmakers outside the Capitol in the morning, circling a corner of the parking lot used by the governor and top legislative leaders.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
Definition of circle
Verb
  • Artillery missions had been plotted the night before.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
  • The filmmaker puts aside the self-reflexive storytelling that has marked much of his work since he was first arrested in 2010, delivering a straightforward narrative that’s plotted like a good thriller but builds into a stark condemnation of abusive power.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025
Definition of plot
Verb
  • These patterns help the snake blend seamlessly into the surrounding foliage.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Others are sleeping in tents surrounded by the rubble of their former homes, fearful to leave in case they are forced out of Gaza.
    — Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Definition of surround
Verb
  • When shopping for pure silk, be sure look for bedding labels that note 100% mulberry silk, also known as natural silk.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 May 2025
  • The seventh of eight PGA Tour Signature Events is being held this week at Muirfield Village Golf Club, also known as Jack's Place.
    — Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Definition of know
Noun
  • New York, Illinois, and California each enacted one or some of these measures last year; there’s been movement in a similar direction, albeit to differing extents, in Connecticut, Maryland, Kansas, Hawaii, Washington State, and Oregon.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
  • That would be an 18% decline from the same period last year, equating to by far the weakest quarterly deliveries growth since at least 2015, the extent of quarterly delivery data available on Tesla’s investor relations website.
    — Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of extent

Browse Nearby Words

compartments
compass
compassed
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Cite this Entry

“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on compass

Nglish: Translation of compass for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compass

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