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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
The compass and thermometer additionally feature luminous markings. New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025 As a doctor myself, those words have been my compass in every diagnosis, every surgery, every hard conversation. Dana Suskind, Time, 27 Aug. 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
Noun
  • The 50-week moving average in July crossed above the 200-week moving average, indicating that an upward direction of trend may now be in place.
    John Navin, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • And radical, if coming from any direction, is not good.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Yale’s lab has tracked these abductions for years now, and the group released its latest report on Tuesday, which shed more light on the scope and scale of Russia’s indoctrination efforts.
    Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The standard deduction significantly reduced the scope of the SALT deduction, shifting its benefits toward higher-income taxpayers.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For years, cybersecurity focused on perimeter defenses.
    Max Silber, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The percentage indicates how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • What else does Crawford have to accomplish in the sport?
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement All of these are clearly fantastic, laudable accomplishments—yet a laundry list of all the things Redford accomplished in his lifetime isn’t really the best way to honor his gifts.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Quasi-moons differ from temporary mini-moons that occasionally orbit Earth such as 2024 PT5, which circled the planet for two months in 2024 and could be an ancient fragment that was blasted off of our primary moon.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Pole dancers circled installations for night-long performances that wrapped around the venue interior.
    Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro – who was this week convicted of plotting to overturn his country’s 2022 election and sentenced to more than 27 years in jail – is far from being the first Latin American leader to run into legal trouble.
    Sofía Benavides, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Another restructure is being plotted, with a meeting scheduled next week to discuss plans.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Prior controversy surrounding its usage can largely be traced back to a 2002 study, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the results of which have largely been refuted.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Note the rose gold surrounds of the analog-style gauges.
    Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With the big night almost here, here's what to know about the award ceremony and how to watch it.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Your wallet — and your customer service experience — will depend on knowing the difference.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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