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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of compass
New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025
But, ultimately, Levi said the real Hollywood compass — the one that has steered him from comic book hero to historical storyteller — is spiritual.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
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
As the gyroscope turns, the standing wave stays in place like a magnet compass needle pointing north.
—New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025
But, ultimately, Levi said the real Hollywood compass — the one that has steered him from comic book hero to historical storyteller — is spiritual.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 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
-
At a moment of increasing niche-ification of the news media business, Axel Springer is running in the opposite direction.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Automation can go in either of these directions; that’s why the task of the left is to create social and cultural conditions in which the benign and constructive aspects of technology and automation are primary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Top Republicans who attended the classified briefing rallied to the president’s defense while Democrats questioned the scope of the operation and pushed to halt further military action.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Homegrown Indian brands, such as Bombay Perfumery and Forest Essentials, are in the scopes of beauty experts.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Layering treatments inside and outside the immediate perimeter, as well as further into the yard, ensures that no entry point goes unattended.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The film will include exclusive witness testimony, expert forensic analysis, and detailed graphic reconstructions that track the moment the thieves infiltrated the museum’s perimeter and vanished with the priceless treasure.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After more than 40 days of uncertainty for our troops, federal workers, Texas families who rely on SNAP, & countless others, Senate Democrats have relented after accomplishing nothing but hurting millions of Americans.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
But the shutdown also accomplished a lot.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As seen in a now-viral clip circling social media, a woman was spotted in the stands at Lambeau Field holding a sign created in full support of the retired NFL star.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
This was a Lakers team ripe for the taking in one major way — LeBron James was out due to injury, much to the disappointment of the Lakers fans dressed in purple and gold who circled this game on the calendar months ago and comprised at least half the crowd.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bea incredulously finds out that Christy has been involved in a treasure hunt for years now, believing that there is a million dollars hidden somewhere in the state, planning and plotting her methods of finding it, and Christy is finally setting her plan in motion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
But moderate House Republicans are plotting potential compromise measures with moderates in the Senate.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The porous polymer coating that reflects up to 97 percent of sunlight and radiates heat into the air, keeping surfaces up to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air even under direct sun.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
-
And Woll is seemingly in a good place after returning to the Leafs, taking part in multiple high-tempo practices, and on Friday, speaking to the media for the first time surrounding his absence.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The employees are all members of a union local known as University Professional Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The account was not guarded by an extra layer of security known as multi-factor authentication.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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