1
as in direction
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in scope
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
within the compass of my voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in perimeter
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something
within the compass of the city walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to accomplish
to carry through (as a process) to completion
attempting more than his modest abilities could compass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to circle
to travel completely around
the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to surround
to form a circle around
a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to know
to have a clear idea of
the concept that the earth is billions of years old is one that the average mind struggles to compass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compass
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2025
In the woods: Why race for 30 hours through the wilderness with no course and nothing but a compass?
—Justin Porter, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Abigail Jackson The adjacent dining area is dedicated to family heirlooms like a set of Allan Gould compass chairs from Kate’s interior designer grandmother and a red vintage rug from her great-grandparents.
—Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for compass
Noun
To locate a compass and single-mindedly pursue a destination.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2025
In the woods: Why race for 30 hours through the wilderness with no course and nothing but a compass?
—Justin Porter, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
The wind sighs: Save me, Lord, for the waters have compassed my soul.
—Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Abigail Jackson The adjacent dining area is dedicated to family heirlooms like a set of Allan Gould compass chairs from Kate’s interior designer grandmother and a red vintage rug from her great-grandparents.
—Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for compass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compass
Noun
-
So, one way to fix this is, fertilizing in spring with a citrus fertilizer, according to label directions.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Hopkins said fire department personnel also monitor the outside air and wind direction, knowing that homes downwind are likely to smell the gas and call the fire department with concerns.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Do Iranian artists find there is more scope for becoming a professional artist in the diaspora?—
Rebecca Ruth Gould,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2025
-
With shed space fitted out to complete two yachts ranging from 98-feet to 229-feet and surface area of around 60,000 square feet, the yard has huge scope for future superyacht construction.—
Katia Damborsky,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
These structures, the center core and open perimeters, are already built.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Hiking here rewards you with panoramic views of the coastline, where hawks circle overhead and the scent of sagebrush floats on the breeze.—
Cliff Lewis,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The boys board a rescue boat and pull five souls off the Flicka’s rescue dinghy, all while sharks circle and buck.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Victoria Goodwin has accepted a plea deal for her involvement in plotting her estranged husband Aaron Goodwin’s murder.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Leaders assume everything is fine, not realizing that high performers are masters at appearing fine while already plotting their next move.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Back when the mysterious scandal surrounding Natalia Grace Barnett made headlines, Imogen Faith-Reid — the actor who would one day play her — wasn’t aware of it.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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As Obama explained to Bush, the rumors surrounding her decision to simply bow out of some aspects of public life proves how many expectations women still carry on their shoulders.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it, the exact cause of the disease is still not known, although a small group of cases are inherited.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The factories vary greatly in size, and their output quantities are not known.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The protests signal the extent of public alarm over some of Trump's executive actions and cuts to federal government.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
-
There, McVeigh was booked and saw on TV the extent of the devastation.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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