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compass

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of compass

1 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 of compass

cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar (also loadstar), polestar
Words Related to compass

benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick

aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target
2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
  • within the compass of my voice
Synonyms of compass

ambit, amplitude, breadth, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width
Words Related to compass

gamut, spectrum, spread

bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain

frontier

horizon, panorama
3 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something
  • within the compass of the city walls
Synonyms of compass

border, borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge
Words Related to compass

ambit

brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip

ceiling, maximum

demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination

borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage

lap

shore
Near Antonyms of compass

center, core, heart

inner, inside, interior, middle, within

Synonym Discussion of compass

range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control). 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
gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.
    • a performance that ran the gamut of emotions
compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.
    • your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study
sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.
    • the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity
scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.
    • as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened
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

compass

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of compass

1 to carry through (as a process) to completion
  • attempting more than his modest abilities could compass
Synonyms of compass

accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through
Words Related to compass

bring about, effect, effectuate, implement

ace, nail

engage (in), practice (also practise)

work (at)

reduplicate, reenact, repeat

actualize, attain, realize

complete, end, finish, wind up
Phrases Synonymous with compass

go through
Near Antonyms of compass

fail

skimp, slight, slur
2 to travel completely around
  • the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth
Synonyms of compass

circle, circuit, circumnavigate, circumvent, encircle, girdle, orbit, ring, round
Words Related to compass

circumambulate, cross, perambulate, traverse
3 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
  • the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king
Synonyms of compass

collude, connive, conspire, contrive, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up, scheme
Words Related to compass

counterplot

brew, concoct, cook (up), devise, hatch

engineer, jockey, maneuver, manipulate

design, frame, lay out, map, plan, shape
4 to form a circle around
  • a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas
Synonyms of compass

circle, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, surround, wreathe
Words Related to compass

circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall

beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm
5 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 of compass

appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand
Words Related to compass

absorb, digest, take in

realize

fathom, penetrate, pierce
Phrases Synonymous with compass

pick up on
Near Antonyms of compass

misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand
Antonyms of compass

miss

Learn More about compass

  1. See words that rhyme with compass Dictionary: Definition of compass Spanish Central: Translation of compass Nglish: Translation of compass for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of compass for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compass

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