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
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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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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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Orienteering is a sport where athletes race across an unfamiliar terrain with the use of a map and a compass.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
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Orienteering is an outdoor sport that requires athletes to navigate between checkpoints using maps and compasses.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Animal characters have been at the center of his interest from the very start of his career.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
12 Aug. 2025
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And the lingering aftermath of the fraudulent rehab center scam has stretched some groups to their limits.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
AZCentral.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As Styles zooms past, a small boy walking the opposite direction waves and catches the Grammy winner’s attention.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
18 Aug. 2025
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By interacting with executive leaders in key parts of the organization, boards can help connect direction and strategy with actions and outcomes.—
Lara Abrash,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Cincinnati is known as a Montessori mecca in large part because of Xavier's undergraduate program and lab school.—
Madeline Mitchell,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
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Playing it by ear: How Nashville musicians protect their hearing Across the country, Nashville is known as a mecca for country music.—
Amber Roberson,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 May 2025
Noun
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The spokesperson added that YouTube will not retain data from users’ IDs or credit cards to use for advertising purposes.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
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Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Joan Goodwin, a physics professor with a lifelong love of the stars, seizes the chance to join NASA’s first class of women astronauts and soon finds friendship, passion, and purpose among her fellow trainees.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Federal troops are patrolling the National Mall and neighborhoods across Washington while President Donald Trump’s administration exerts extraordinary power over law enforcement in the nation’s capital.—
John Seewer,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
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The 12th-century castle was commissioned by William the Conqueror, and more than 900 Norman artifacts have been loaned by the British Museum to create its first medieval gallery outside of the UK capital.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Trump wisely selected an intellectual of integrity whose sole focus will be getting the data right the first time to help the White House maximize employment and make Americans’ real income gains again.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Aug. 2025
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The key is creating the ability—both in yourself and in your organization—to navigate uncertainty with flexibility and focus.—
Aman Kidwai,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Compared to other metropolitan hubs, the city offers a lower overall cost in housing, insurance, healthcare, and taxes.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
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The distressed assets of today hold the potential to become the thriving hubs of tomorrow; the time to revitalize is here.—
Dr. Dick Bridy,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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