variants
also loadstars
as in compasses
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
a society seemingly with unbridled greed as its only lodestar
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lodestars
Over succeeding decades, both Sellars and Salonen have been Salzburg Festival lodestars.
—
Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
But in swapping out just four tracks, FKA twigs finally brought planet EUSEXUA into the orbit of her late-’90s pop lodestars.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
Despite their three-year age difference, Derek Hough and Julianne Hough have become the twin lodestars of Dancing With the Stars.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
But in swapping out just four tracks, FKA twigs finally brought planet EUSEXUA into the orbit of her late-’90s pop lodestars.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
Despite their three-year age difference, Derek Hough and Julianne Hough have become the twin lodestars of Dancing With the Stars.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lodestars
Noun
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Pilots learn to navigate using maps and compasses, as well as natural cues such as stars and terrain features including rivers, bridges and other landmarks to orient themselves and move toward friendly forces.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Likewise, this administration has demonstrated a talent for sudden pivots — foreign policy statements that change overnight, budget proposals that evaporate by morning, and messaging that suggests the communications team may be using different maps, compasses and time zones.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Staff were stationed throughout, giving runners directions, passing out water and cheering us on.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Regular service on the Tehran–Moscow route will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in both directions, IRNA reported, citing officials with Mahan Air.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In its announcement Thursday, the Lucas has revealed the thematic compositions of the majority of these galleries, which range from focuses on specific artists to medium-specific hangs.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Running April 23-May 3, the Canary Islands event returns with more than 100 titles spanning competition, retrospectives, live-score screenings and special focuses.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Here, sheep can’t solve crimes until human incompetence forces them to step into the breach; though pushed for the purposes of fantasy, the limits of animal intelligence are a poignant factor in the tale.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional veterinary advice.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lodestars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lodestars. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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