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compass

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verb

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as in to circle
to travel completely around the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
This vision became our compass for all strategy, from research investments to recruitment. Prof. Dr. Med. Mazda Farshad, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 Each garment comes with a dedicated black badge with a blue compass logo, as well as nickel shank badge buttons. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
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
  • When the lines of a CME’s magnetic field and those of the Earth’s magnetic field are pointed in the opposite directions, the CME can unite with the Earth’s magnetosphere and fill it with vast quantities of solar energy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The contract was awarded at a time when the world was racing to field missiles that could change direction while traveling at several times the speed of sound.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As its name suggests, a macroscope is an instrument for making large-scale entities (macro-) visible to the eye (scope).
    Big Think, Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Scant details While the diplomatic momentum appeared strong, few details were released about the scope of the new trade frameworks.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Des Cars admitted that security around the Louvre's perimeter was an issue and that the only camera monitoring the outside of the museum was facing away from the balcony that led to the gallery where the precious jewels were kept, according to reports.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Five different Santa Margarita players combined to scored eight goals from perimeter against senior Jonas Ransford, one of Orange County’s best goalies and a CIF-SS Open Division champion.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This sort of commercial imagery has accomplished something truly new, something the CORONA engineers could only have dreamed about.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The logistical feat those intrepid women accomplished staggers the mind of any contemporary author.
    Adrian Miller, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Just before the robbery, the Jeep, which didn’t have a license plate, had circled the bank.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Skinner also gave his TikTok followers a full 360° view of their Zootopia costumes with a video of them dancing in Times Square as a camera circled them.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On Monday, Tchiroma accused the government of plotting to arrest him and posted images on social media of snipers near his residence - claims that could not be independently verified.
    NPR, NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Identify fundamentally sound equities or ETFs with steady uptrends and plot their 50-day EMA.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The result is a geomagnetic storm that amplifies the ionospheric and radio disruptions caused by flares and saturates the radiation belts surrounding Earth to such an extent that new belts can suddenly form.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Air raid alerts were in place in Kyiv and surrounding districts for around an hour and a half before the air force called them off shortly after midnight on Sunday.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The charitable organization funded by the Johnson & Johnson heiress is known for gifts to education, health and civic projects.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Also known as irritable hip, the condition is due to inflammation of the hip joint lining.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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