Definition of polestarnext
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle under the polestar of progress, urban renewal programs gutted the historic districts of many cities

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 polestar While his Late Night forerunner Letterman was probably the comedic polestar of Generation X—gruff, cynical, and biting the hand that fed—O’Brien became a bedrock influence for the next generation of Millennial comics. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025 The Brazilian restaurant has been lauded widely as a polestar of exciting food in the city. — Dallas News, 13 Oct. 2022 And, of course, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn’s polestar for art and repertory programming. — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polestar
Noun
  • This may be because there are many new hunters who either lack wilderness smarts or who have read articles in the magazines explaining how a man in the woods can find his way by taking bearings with a compass on top of a map.
    — Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In addition to charging your devices, this solar power bank also functions as a super-bright flashlight and a compass.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • In some applications, the process can also work in the opposite direction.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Politics is cyclical, and swing voters have proved consistently in recent years that their loyalties tend in no particular direction.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Polestar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polestar. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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