Synonyms of compass

compass 1 of 2

noun

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

• direction
• purpose
• focus
• polestar
• lodestar
• object
• objective
• goal
• intention
• standard
• ambition
• measure
• cynosure
• criterion
• touchstone
• aim
• grade
• yardstick
• target
• dream
• aspiration
• benchmark
• par
• mark

2

as in scope

an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

within the compass of my voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scope
• extent
• confines
• realm
• range
• width
• amplitude
• reach
• sweep
• breadth
• ambit
• circle
• spectrum
• sphere
• dimension(s)
• domain
• element
• department
• region
• province
• field
• terrain
• discipline
• gamut
• specialty
• panorama
• frontier
• bailiwick
• horizon
• spread
• fief
• fiefdom
• demesne

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

• perimeter
• circumference
• edge
• boundary
• confines
• border
• edging
• rim
• margin
• end
• brim
• periphery
• frame
• skirt
• verge
• fringe
• bound
• hem
• outskirts
• skirting
• extent
• borderline
• lip
• shore
• crest
• cusp
• ceiling
• brink
• mere
• curb
• limitation
• measure
• maximum
• frontier
• demarcation
• ambit
• march
• restriction
• lap
• termination
• borderland
• pale
• selvage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• center
• heart
• core
• within
• interior
• middle
• inside
• inner

compass

2 of 2

verb

ˈkəm-pəs 

1

as in to accomplish

to carry through (as a process) to completion

attempting more than his modest abilities could compass

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accomplish
• fulfill
• achieve
• execute
• do
• perform
• make
• carry out
• implement
• carry off
• pull off
• complete
• put through
• prosecute
• negotiate
• bring off
• commit
• follow through (with)
• practice
• go through
• finish
• realize
• effect
• bring about
• ace
• perpetrate
• attain
• work (at)
• effectuate
• engage (in)
• nail
• wind up
• end
• repeat
• reduplicate
• actualize
• reenact

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fail
• slight
• slur
• skimp

2

as in to circle

to travel completely around

the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• circle
• orbit
• traverse
• circuit
• cross
• ring
• round
• encircle
• circumvent
• circumnavigate
• girdle
• circumambulate
• perambulate

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

• plot
• scheme
• plan
• intrigue
• contrive
• conspire
• collude
• machinate
• connive
• devise
• engineer
• put up
• map
• design
• hatch
• cook (up)
• shape
• maneuver
• manipulate
• brew
• counterplot
• concoct
• jockey
• lay out
• frame

4

as in to surround

to form a circle around

a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surround
• circle
• ring
• encircle
• encompass
• enclose
• embrace
• gird
• girdle
• wall
• environ
• wreathe
• fence (in)
• circumscribe
• hem (in)
• close in
• beset
• swarm
• cordon (off)
• entrench
• besiege
• invest

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

• know
• understand
• grasp
• decipher
• recognize
• comprehend
• see
• appreciate
• sense
• get
• discern
• perceive
• realize
• twig
• conceive
• make out
• tumble (to)
• cotton (to or on to)
• apprehend
• make
• catch on (to)
• seize
• dig
• behold
• register
• assimilate
• intuit
• savvy
• pick up on
• catch
• decode
• cognize
• grok
• take in
• fathom
• absorb
• digest
• penetrate
• pierce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• misread
• mistake
• misunderstand
• misinterpret
• misconstrue
• misperceive
• misapprehend
• misconceive

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

Recent Examples of compass

Noun

People just had an emotional compass for it. —Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025

Over 1,000 years ago, explorers began using compasses, typically made with a floating cork or piece of wood with a magnetized needle in it, to find their way. —Scott Brame, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 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