1
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of cynosure
The former played the role of cynosure for the neophytes of the new high society, the latter remaining the bastion of genteel estates and social exclusivity.
—
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
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
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
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
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
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
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynosure
Noun
-
The narrow compass of his interiority summons a narrow prose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Simon Beck works alone, using a compass and a pair of snowshoes to create intricate patterns as large as three soccer fields.—
Maggie Penman,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Godfall tells the story of a small Nebraska town, which becomes the center of the world when a giant alien crash lands out of the sky beside it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Mitsubishi is looking to capitalize on rising power needs from data centers, manufacturing, as well as LNG exports, by expanding in the the world's largest gas market, citing domestic consumption, production, exports, and further demand growth.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For once, things appear to be moving in the right direction in the injury department.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The poll shows that 47% of Marylanders believe the state is headed in the right direction, but 44% say the state is headed in the wrong direction.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Frequenting some of the city’s smaller concert venues that help Chicago thrive as a live-music mecca.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Furano, Japan Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, is a powder mecca.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The core purpose of Taste Addison – promoting Addison's 200+ restaurants – will be reenvisioned to include new, year-round options to support and elevate North Texas' most vibrant dining hub.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Community development financial institutions are banks, credit unions, loan funds and capital funds that have a mission to provide help to underserved, often low-income or rural, communities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Jan. 2026
-
School can be an awful place, where social capital is built on a person’s acceptance by a group, and any difference is sniffed out and mocked, sometimes worse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Stepheny Price is a Writer at Fox News with a focus on West Coast and Midwest news, missing persons, national and international crime stories, homicide cases, and border security.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Barra says the focus now is on making cars more affordable, incorporating artificial intelligence and new technology like Google Gemini to make the vehicles safer and appealing to the consumer.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fort Worth as a whole has made a strong push to be recognized as a hub for film production.—
Samuel O'Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Among other speakers at the Summit was Zach Kokoloff, senior vice president/asset management at Hackman Capital Partners which operates Radford Studio Center in Studio City, a 55-acre hub of stages, offices and support staff.—
Marianne Love,
Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
