COMPASSING Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

compassing

verb

present participle of compass

as in fulfilling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in circling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in plotting

to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in surrounding

to form a circle around a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in understanding

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassing

Verb

The research of Soai, along with that of Kagan, contributed to fulfilling the remaining two criteria, for which the duo received the 2026 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026
In August, his wife, Rivka, gave birth to a daughter, fulfilling a promise that Bohbot made to himself in the tunnels to give his 5-year-old son, Reem, a sibling.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of fulfilling

Verb

Cosmic death The unnamed exoplanet was discovered circling the white dwarf HS 0209+0832, according to a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026
Surveillance video shows three vehicles circling the parking lot before a white Toyota Tacoma barrels through the storefront, shattering glass and sending employees running.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of circling

Verb

Torture of political opponents The indictment details several cases involving military officers, opposition figures and other detainees accused of plotting against Maduro.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Jair Bolsonaro is now serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest after being convicted of plotting to overturn that election and prevent Lula from taking office.

— Catherine Osborn, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of plotting

Verb

The surrounding area has also become increasingly popular among billionaires, and in nearby Palm Beach, security has become part of the draw.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
The film follows a protagonist returning to his hometown for the first time in 28 years, drawn back by the mystery surrounding a young artistic prodigy.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of surrounding

Verb

My breadth of experience from my upbringing to fighting for Arkansans from all walks of life, gives me an advantage in understanding that life story every person brings into my court.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Being able to share those same schedules, having the same passion and truly understanding what the other person is talking about — that’s a real plus.

— Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of understanding

Verb

Following an orderly wind-down, UNRWA itself will neither be essential nor necessary to accomplishing the work that lies ahead in Gaza.

— Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
For a franchise that has experienced the playoffs in consecutive seasons five times in its 150-year history, getting there back-to-back years is an accomplishment, even with the Cubs not accomplishing their goal of winning the World Series.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of accomplishing

Verb

Oil drops as Hormuz traffic rebounds Oil prices fell as new data showed crude exports from the Middle East surpassed prewar levels, though any respite may be short-lived as attacks on tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz increased.

— Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad operates between Durango and Silverton, traversing the San Juan National Forest and running along the Animas River.

— Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of traversing

Verb

Captured by the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, or SMILE, the footage reveals the full ring of auroral activity encircling Earth's north pole in ultraviolet light, stretching across both the night and day sides of our planet.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Dumas watched, charmed, his arms encircling his wife’s shoulders, and accepted an ice-cream sundae in a silver parfait cup.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of encircling

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.

Browse Nearby Words

compasses

compassing

compassion

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Compassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassing. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of compassing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes