as in spectrum
the distance or extent between possible extremes the actress's work runs the gamut from goofy comedies to serious historical dramas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun gamut differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gamut are compass, orbit, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When is it sensible to use compass instead of gamut?

The words compass and gamut are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

In what contexts can orbit take the place of gamut?

Although the words orbit and gamut have much in common, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When might range be a better fit than gamut?

While in some cases nearly identical to gamut, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

Where would scope be a reasonable alternative to gamut?

While the synonyms scope and gamut are close in meaning, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

When is sweep a more appropriate choice than gamut?

The meanings of sweep and gamut largely overlap; however, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

Examples 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 gamut The songs recorded for what became Big Star’s mythical third LP run the whole gamut from absolute heartbreak to unfettered joy. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 22 Nov. 2024 There’s also support for 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Ben Sin, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 Many disabled singles may not consider this practical and may not self-identify that way – instead preferring to access a wider gamut of prospective dates. Gus Alexiou, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 The specs reveal coverage of 90% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 98% for Rec.709, and the unit comes with 11 levels of color temperature tuning as well as BenQ's HDR-PRO tone mapping and dynamic iris technology, plus support for HDR10+ content. Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gamut 

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Cite this Entry

“Gamut.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gamut. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.

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