1
as in to traverse
to travel completely around the first ship to circumnavigate the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to bypass
to avoid by going around we can circumnavigate the traffic jam if we take the next exit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 circumnavigate Ships can usually navigate the canal in eight to ten hours, shaving weeks and millions of dollars off the time and cost required to circumnavigate the entire continent. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 Ships would no longer need to circumnavigate South America, braving the treacherous waters off Cape Horn. Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025 From 1986 to 1988, thousands of pounds of incinerated soot from Philadelphia circumnavigated the globe on a container ship in search of a buyer. Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 The narrow route, first opened by the U.S. in 1914, allows cargo vessels to travel between the American continents rather than having to circumnavigate them, reducing transit times. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
  • On 2/25, agents traversed rugged desert terrain under the cover of darkness, positioning themselves for a surprise take down at sunrise.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Collin Leiby was traversing a trail on Sharp Mountain in Pennsylvania when his dog, Bass, wandered off the path, according to The Associated Press.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This becomes even more critical as threat actors find ways to bypass or steal 2FA codes, setting fire to our safety nets.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • But the two chambers must adopt the same budget plan to move forward with the budget reconciliation process — a complicated maneuver that allows Congress to bypass the 60-vote threshold typically required in the Senate.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • As the rivals are circling, the challenge for Red Bull is to reestablish its domination before a major change in regulations next year.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Now that the lander is circling the moon, cameras aboard Athena are capturing stunning images of the surface below.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The big picture: The White House is embarking on a broader effort to circumvent traditional media, including by inviting non-mainstream outlets into the press briefing room.
    Alex Isenstadt, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Some researchers suspect the NIH's Federal Register freeze is an attempt to circumvent that ruling.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • There are materials to cultivate micro-algae as a potential food source; the tools needed to test how microorganisms affect different surfaces inside the orbiting lab; and the equipment to create advanced semiconductor crystals.
    Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Scientists have long known that small changes in how Earth orbits the sun influence glacial cycles over thousands of years.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Unfortunately, Hartford continues to avoid the heavy lifting that is required to have a successful system.
    Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Pet owners should also ensure that their felines' rabies vaccinations are up to date to avoid the risk of confusion between the two viral infections.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Other ska-adjacent U.K. bands—Madness, the Beat, the Selecter—made a beeline for 2 Tone, and the reverberations would eventually encircle the globe.
    Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Although dark, thick liner encircled her lash line, her lipstick was a more muted, peach-toned nude.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Remove any stems that cross one another or appear dead or damaged.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Trump Media sues Brazil Supreme Court justice who once crossed Musk The Department of Justice said that the other cartel leaders and managers extradited by Mexico face charges in the U.S. that include murder, money-laundering, racketeering and drug-trafficking.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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