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

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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

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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 Spoelstra charted out a map for Herro to circumnavigate by running into antithetical gaps on a possession-by-possession basis, creating inconsistencies that got Cleveland’s fatigued defense out of rhythm. Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025 The Drake Passage also gained attention online thanks to the Royal Caribbean 9-Month World Cruise, which circumnavigated the globe from December 2023 to September 2024. Bailey Richards, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025 More recently, Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australia’s coastline for more than three weeks and holding wargames near New Zealand, two unprecedented developments that have rattled the U.S. allies. Aris Folley, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2025 Pitt, Kosinski and Bruckheimer circumnavigated the Formula 1 global circuit from Silverstone to Las Vegas, ending in Abu Dhabi for production (hence the film’s reported $300 million budget). Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
  • In the sneak peek clip, an array of ocean animals traverse great distances in search of food, including travelling to seamounts — underwater mountains up to three miles high.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 5 June 2025
  • But, given the unlimited wonders accessible to the owner of a TARDIS that can traverse all of space and time, the Doctor's ongoing obsession with Earth and its people (particularly the UK) seems slightly incongruous.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • As a result, even today, much of the funding aimed at solving Africa’s challenges bypasses African organizations entirely.
    Victoria Philips, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The goal was to allow qualified drivers to bypass slowing down for Border Patrol agents who glance into vehicles and might ask questions.
    Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Right Now And don’t skip a walk around the city walls—a 1.2-mile stretch circling the Old Town.
    Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Union demonstrators demanding passage of the bill greeted lawmakers outside the Capitol in the morning, circling a corner of the parking lot used by the governor and top legislative leaders.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Hidden in large container units with retractable roofs, the drones were designed to circumvent Russia’s sophisticated air defenses.
    Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 4 June 2025
  • After an April report indicated that MSC’s founding Aponte family had considered separating the Panama ports from the deal altogether, the regulator publicly warned CK Hutchison against a split as a means to circumvent antitrust review.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Mars Odyssey and MAVEN are two spacecrafts that have been orbiting Mars for years.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 June 2025
  • Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • But the majority of Tributary buyers prefer a turnkey home, avoiding the time and effort required to build a custom residence.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
  • The team’s careful planning and early outreach helped avoid problems in the future, like having to replace important music in post-production – something that simply wasn’t an option here.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire crew successfully encircled the entire perimeter of the fire in control lines.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025
  • There are single and double cultivars offering variations on the classic yellow center encircled by white petals.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The war has driven about 13 million people from their homes, including over 4 million who crossed into neighboring countries.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2025
  • Her career crossed a certain threshold of seriousness.
    Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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