1
as in traverses
to travel completely around
communication satellites encircling the earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in surrounds
to form a circle around
immediately after announcing their engagement, the couple was encircled by their applauding friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encircles
Instead, a bright ring of sunlight encircles the moon's silhouette, often called a 'ring of fire'.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The trail encircles a large, ADA-accessible playground and also provides views of the South Bend skyline.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Many travelers choose to explore the area via the Ring of Kerry, the scenic drive that encircles the peninsula.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead of a mountain of mounded mulch, aim for more of a doughnut shape of mulch that encircles the trunk.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2025
Each element encircles a central void, which Robertson describes as symbolic thresholds–portals between identities, spaces, and ideas.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Of course, the vote passes and the Imperial Fleet encircles the planet, all according to plan.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2025
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The trail encircles a large, ADA-accessible playground and also provides views of the South Bend skyline.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Many travelers choose to explore the area via the Ring of Kerry, the scenic drive that encircles the peninsula.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead of a mountain of mounded mulch, aim for more of a doughnut shape of mulch that encircles the trunk.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2025
Each element encircles a central void, which Robertson describes as symbolic thresholds–portals between identities, spaces, and ideas.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Of course, the vote passes and the Imperial Fleet encircles the planet, all according to plan.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encircles
Verb
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Running daily between the two cities, the train traverses 381 miles in about 11 hours.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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As Mesidor traverses the field at Bommarito Performance Systems in Aventura, there’s a part of him that wants to be alongside everyone else who does wind sprints in preparation for their 40s.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose, health care providers who suspect the illness will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the spinal cord.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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For World Cup visitors, the museum offers a window into the culture of Silicon Valley, the global technology hub that surrounds Levi’s Stadium.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Anthony Arceneaux, who owns the spot with his wife, Jennifer, circles the room in a white cowboy hat, shaking hands like a Presidential candidate.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Amazomania really circles around that.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Abigail is the one who clearly thrills to performance; Shaun consistently orbits her sun, giving the impression of the bearded and bespectacled multi-instrumentalist who’d be happy jamming on the sidelines.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Vlad Tenev, chairman and CEO of Robinhood Markets, rings the Opening Bell with Robinhood Ventures Fund I at the New York Stock Exchange on March 6, 2026.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
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Cala Pregonda, Menorca Just an island over from the tourist-trodden Mallorca, Menorca feels a world away—a sentiment that rings even more true in the north of the island.—
Catherine Tansey,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jonás Cuarón arrives for a second time to SXSW on Tuesday with his latest feature film Campeón Gabacho, based on the 2015 Aura Xilonen novel about a young man who crosses the Rio Grande after a harsh reality in Mexico to face a wild life in a New York City Latino barrio.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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For those looking overseas, Spain will be in the spotlight in August, when a total solar eclipse crosses the north and east of the country.—
Megan Eaves,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encircles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encircles. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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