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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It is recommended that hikers travel with food and water, a compass, maps, sturdy hiking shoes, and survival gear in case of an overnight stay.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
25 June 2025
-
And in an era of emerging tech, economic uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, clients are looking for their lawyers to be both compass and counsel, providing direction and expertise.—
Liane Jackson,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Dressmaker and activist Mary Dickerson (top row, center) inspires a character in HBO's The Gilded Age.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
8 July 2025
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For players such as Chicago Sky center and WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams, this growth is a sign of necessary change.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
Noun
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These initiatives build on 10 Corso Como’s increasing focus on boosting its cultural programming, as part of the new direction under the vision of Tiziana Fausti.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
-
Art direction is led by Pawas Sawatchaiyamet (Monkey Man) and visual effects is headed by Lee Stringer (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Star Wars: Clone Wars).—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
No place on earth draws more fanatics than Penang, the world’s mecca for durian lovers.—
Tom Downey,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
-
Indianapolis has become a mecca for those activities as the home of the Indy 500 and the Pacers (who came up just short of winning the NBA crown this year).—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
Noun
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And the brands who roll with precision, purpose and personality will define the future of the category.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
The purpose of the grants is to address the climate crisis and various environmental harms at the local level.—
Tracy J. Wholf
June 26,
CBS News,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had thought about trading down from 28th to acquire more draft capital.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
29 June 2025
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The study is based on per capital daily news consumption, according to SmartNews.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
Noun
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His primary focus is civil space policy, with interests in both defense and energy & environment.—
Oliver Swainston,
Space.com,
28 June 2025
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The Marketing In the same vein, Raffles Hotels & Resorts is embracing its own part in the history of the Golden Age, but this time with a focus on services.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
28 June 2025
Noun
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The Southeast Queens hub opened in 2011 and would expand as part of its $5.5 billion proposal to add table games such as blackjack and poker, over 1,000 new hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat performance venue and more than 10 acres of public greenspace.—
Téa Kvetenadze,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
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The California hub achieved a strong index score of 60.7, bolstered by a high rating of 84/100 on FlightRadar24.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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