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lodestars

noun

variants also loadstars
plural of lodestar
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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lodestars
  1. compasses
  2. directions
  3. foci
  4. purposes
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
  • But Palatine Road was closed in both directions at Winston Drive for hours while crews cleaned up the mess.
    — Desiree Evans, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • At the end of both cases, the judge will give directions to the jury, after which all of their electronic devices will be taken and they will be sent to a room to consider their verdict.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of directions
Noun
  • Improving infrastructure has been one of Duffy’s primary focuses since taking the helm.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Both inflation and the jobs market have been key focuses for Wall Street and the Federal Reserve.
    — Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of foci
Noun
  • FedNow and Bitcoin merchant payments operate through different systems and serve different purposes, so their transaction figures do not provide a basis for direct comparison.
    — Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Assessments Assessment reports like those produced by the US and the IPCC serve several purposes.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of purposes

Browse Nearby Words

lodestar
lodestars
lodestone
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Cite this Entry

“Lodestars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lodestars. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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