cynosures

noun

plural of cynosure
1
as in directions
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 centers
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynosures
  1. directions
  2. centers
  3. compasses
  4. capitals
  5. purposes
  6. hubs
  7. foci
  8. meccas
Noun
  • Metal forks are stored handles downward and plastic forks are positioned both directions for patron self service.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • For another, turning my head just sent the view spinning in different directions in a way that quickly threatened nausea.
    — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of directions
Noun
  • The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that its forces carried out drone strikes on logistics centers, port infrastructure and three cargo ships in the port of Reni in the Odesa region.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Paired with on-site energy storage, SSTs could turn data centers from blunt-force loads into more flexible participants in the grid.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of centers
Noun
  • Think vintage navy portholes, ship compasses, and aircraft fuselage.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The prevailing motifs include Anglo-American boarding schools and college campuses, accoutrements with a romantic aura (billowing sleeves, melting candles), and analog artifacts (old compasses, monocles).
    — Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
Definition of compasses
Noun
  • That means building stronger connections between the region’s fashion capitals, but also finding ways for designers to reach more international buyers, press and customers.
    — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Moscow has also noted the prospect of French or British nuclear guarantees extending to European states and nonnuclear European capitals considering the development of nuclear options of their own.
    — Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of capitals
Noun
  • Combined with its co-founders' pledge to donate 80% of their equity and an employee donation matching program, roughly 20% of Anthropic's shares will be dedicated to public purposes, excluding any additional shares added later.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Preliminary findings indicate Wilcher accessed it on multiple occasions for non-law enforcement purposes, the GBI said.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • Trump won the area handily in 2020 and 2024 and the arena placed the president hours away from the state’s blue-leaning hubs in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Should inventory be staged closer to fulfillment centers or major retail distribution hubs?
    — Tom Wicky, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of hubs
Noun
  • Central Asia has the largest number of foci, or areas where the disease is present.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also the Chill and Thrill Islands, aptly named for their focuses on chilling and thrilling passengers, respectively.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of foci
Noun
  • Food meccas include Pier 57 (hit Nom Wah for legendary dim sum, or LoLo’s on the Water for the fish fry) and, of course, Chelsea Market (try Miznon’s pita cheeseburger and roasted cauliflower, and Ayada’s mango sticky rice).
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of meccas or meeting places for diehard fans, live sporting events try to position themselves as major cultural moments.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of meccas
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

cynosure
cynosures
Cyrenaic
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Cite this Entry

“Cynosures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosures. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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