1
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure
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2
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
that company is the cynosure for anyone wishing to make it in the music business
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynosure
From these beginnings, the Voice grew into a cynosure of the counterculture.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
The Celtic cynosure in the 100-96 triumph, Tatum logged a team-best 26 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists while scoring 7 vital fourth-quarter points.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022
While the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, attracted intense national attention and became a cynosure of criticism after the company’s introduction of its blockbuster pill OxyContin, the Mallinckrodt brand slipped under the radar.
—Washington Post, 10 May 2022
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
The Celtic cynosure in the 100-96 triumph, Tatum logged a team-best 26 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists while scoring 7 vital fourth-quarter points.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022
While the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, attracted intense national attention and became a cynosure of criticism after the company’s introduction of its blockbuster pill OxyContin, the Mallinckrodt brand slipped under the radar.
—Washington Post, 10 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynosure
Noun
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When the external map is confusing, your internal compass becomes your most reliable guide.—
Kathy Miller Perkins,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The works showcased come from the Kartell archive and include black and white shots that depict Kartell classic items such as the gold compass, or the little chair by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The 2025 season maybe a redshirt season in the pros for him, but there is intriguing upside as a long-term option at center.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
In the 1940s and '50s, the Hill Country area was known as an international wool and mohair center, and Comfort’s own Adolf Stieler was called the Angora Goat King of the World.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When the bacterial balance changes in an unhelpful direction, the result could be digestive problems.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2025
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No shortage of leaders have moved in the opposite direction—not least the current occupant in the Kremlin, under whom Russia has transitioned from flawed democracy to unfettered dictatorship.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
From a pastel mecca of makeup, to decadent chocolate dim sum-and even where to score coveted Sonny Angels-these are the spots sure to please the hard-to-shop-for tween in your life.—
Bea McMonagle,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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The big picture: The nonprofit Cobbs Creek Foundation is in the midst of a massive $175 million restoration project that aims to transform the course into a golfing mecca for the region.—
Mike D'Onofrio,
Axios,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And then there's still a question after that, of meaning and purpose.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Israel accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The company also raised guidance on its capital expenditures for the year, expecting to spend between $64 billion to $72 billion.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
So Cordero set out to make a video game about it from the perspective of a child in Quito, Ecuador’s mountainous capital.—
Lewis Gordon,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Fabien Westerhoff will take on the executive role of Managing Director of the theatrical film division bringing together the complementary strengths of both companies, with a strategic market focus on animation, family entertainment, and genre cinema.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2025
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Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform developed as an alternative to Twitter (now X), with a focus on transparency, user control, and open-source protocols.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These include plans for a Trump tower in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and major hub Jeddah, real estate projects in Oman and further expansion in Abu Dhabi.—
Federico Maccioni,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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Earlier this month, Xi visited Southeast Asia for the second time in less than two years, to strengthen ties with Vietnam and other key neighbors that have become transshipment hubs for Chinese goods.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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