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orbit

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun orbit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of orbit are compass, gamut, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," 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 compass be a better fit than orbit?

In some situations, the words compass and orbit are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

Where would gamut be a reasonable alternative to orbit?

The words gamut and orbit can be used in similar contexts, but gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When can range be used instead of orbit?

The words range and orbit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

In what contexts can scope take the place of orbit?

Although the words scope and orbit have much in common, 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 would sweep be a good substitute for orbit?

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

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

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 orbit
Noun
Here's the orbit height of Kosmos-2553 vs time, showing some tiny (less than 1 km) altitude changes. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025 Thirty-five years ago, in April of 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
More than 2,300 rocket bodies orbiting the Earth can't be controlled and will eventually reenter the atmosphere, according to Nature.com. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025 Pettit is widely admired as an accomplished photographer, spending much of his spare time aboard the International Space Station photographing astronomical phenomena, auroral displays and life aboard the orbiting lab complex. William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for orbit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orbit
Noun
  • There’s trekking pole attachment loops, a stretchy outer pocket with room enough for a layer or rain jacket, and the combination of a roll-top closure, compression straps and full length side zip makes accessing everything super easy.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 1 May 2025
  • Build Feedback Loops That Invite Lived Experience Into Process Effective third space organizations build feedback loops that move in every direction—top down, bottom up, and laterally—with transparency, accountability, and storytelling at their core.
    Mary Hemphill, PhD, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • His swirling, circling Ophüls-like camera movements and magenta-to-mauve tonal shifts create an atmosphere sensitive to morning-after regret.
    Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Several of the words on the back have letters circled in red.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Cruz then traversed the international winter league circuit for six years.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Urban environments, by contrast, often overload the brain's stress circuits with noise, artificial lighting and architectural monotony.
    Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Weekends can get crowded, but weekdays are quieter, meaning the short, steep hikes to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park's most notable hill) will be less traversed.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Hundreds, if not thousands, of insect species most likely migrate, including dragonflies that cross the Indian Ocean, moths that traverse Australia and plant hoppers that windsurf through East Asia.
    Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • CEOs and their closest advisors often share similar characteristics and a worldview shaped by their career trajectories, networks and historical business models.
    Joseph Santana, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Once the trajectory solidifies, the stock can take off.
    Brian Evans, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The advancements in hair restoration and the increasing acceptance of cosmetic procedures for all offer a path for men to take control of their appearance and well-being, with none of the shame of yesterday.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • If your career background will help guide and inform a high school grad following a similar path, offering mentorship and sharing advice and wisdom is invaluable, according to Forge.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But sales of tickets for summer travel from the rest of the world are down only 2 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data on the 25 most popular routes from the Airlines Reporting Corporation, whose data covers about two-thirds of global airline ticket sales.
    Josh Holder, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • American Airlines did not address additional questions from The Observer about its capacity issues, as of Tuesday. ’Simply out of space’ American Airlines uses larger planes that are part of its main fleet with full-service operations for longer routes.
    Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Orbit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orbit. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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