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
  • Subscribers must order at least two meal kits per week from a rotating menu featuring dozens of recipes with pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step directions.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Service on the line is back to normal in both directions, a SEPTA spokesperson said.
    — CBS Philadelphia, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of directions
Noun
  • Lombardo expressed support for the projects backed by local communities, while Ford questioned whether the developments would benefit residents and proposed pausing tax breaks for centers.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • By entering your address, the locator will create a list of voting centers that are less than a mile away.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 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
  • Washington and European capitals are now trying to minimize their exposure.
    — Tom Moerenhout, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Other priorities include examining the emergence of early states, imperial capitals, and major Bronze Age civilizations.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of capitals
Noun
  • The measure would require new local tax increases or extensions that are used for specific purposes to receive a two-thirds vote to pass.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The septet is also planning on working on new material for full-band endeavors as well as individual purposes.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • Prices start at $2,410 (excluding international flights, which are typically via hubs such as Paris or London).
    — Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Independent Russian media outlets later reported that Ukrainian drones had targeted one of Europe’s largest oil transport hubs in Samara.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hubs
Noun
  • As part of its third-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, Netflix lists improvements to monetization as one of its main focuses going forward, alongside efforts to boost entertainment value and leverage new technology.
    — Emma Roth, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026
  • One of the focuses of the collaboration is a Nutcracker Afternoon Tea debuted by The Palm Court, celebrating the beloved holiday tale.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 20 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 7 Nov. 2026.

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