compassing

verb

present participle of compass
1
as in fulfilling
to carry through (as a process) to completion attempting more than his modest abilities could compass

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in circling
to travel completely around the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth

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3
as in plotting
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king

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4
as in surrounding
to form a circle around a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas

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5
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassing
  1. fulfilling
  2. circling
  3. plotting
  4. surrounding
  5. understanding
  6. accomplishing
  7. traversing
  8. encircling
Verb
  • Fast-forward three years and Suzuki is on the verge of fulfilling that ambition at Villa, after starring for his country at this summer’s World Cup.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • By extension, responding from this awareness may even help survivors understand their own reactions and experiences, which may ultimately aid their healing and ability to lead fulfilling lives.
    — Michele Patterson Ford, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fulfilling
Verb
  • Due to a combination of circling real estate developers and personal financial crises, the Pogues’ homes are under threat.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The film premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section to rave reviews and a lengthy standing ovation before buyers quickly started circling and A24 emerged with the worldwide rights.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of circling
Verb
  • The mathematics doctoral student is trying to convince authorities that a Silicon Valley billionaire is plotting domestic nuclear terrorism.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Even the Cinerama Dome is plotting a comeback thanks to Sony and Alamo Drafthouse.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of plotting
Verb
  • Additional details surrounding the circumstances of the crash or identity of the person who died was not provided.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Mob Museum in Las Vegas has been fielding questions and debunking misinformation surrounding the case for years, said Geoff Schumacher, the museum’s vice president of research, collections and programs.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of surrounding
Verb
  • Congressman Jeff Hurd, who represents Colorado’s Third District, said the project could put quantum technology to work in understanding domestic resources.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • For fellow author Marissa Stapley, Telfer’s book is key to understanding why con artists are seen as intriguing — an idea Stapley explored in her 2021 novel, Lucky.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of understanding
Verb
  • The three-time Olympic gold medalist celebrated accomplishing the feat, though there was a small caveat.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The task can remain the same even when the physical method of accomplishing it changes.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of accomplishing
Verb
  • These memorable rail journeys - one in Canada, two in the United States - offer up incredible panroamas, city stops, mountains and forests, traversing long distances across the continent.
    — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Paul Anthony Kelly looks comfortable traversing both fantasies.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of traversing
Verb
  • The zoning resolution for the Manhattanville extension explicitly forbids encircling any of the outdoor spaces with gates or fences.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Finding a planet-forming disk of gas and dust encircling all three stars in a system is very rare, and finding a disk consisting of three rings with misaligned orbits is even stranger.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Aug. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Compassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassing. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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