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
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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
USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The yacht is named after Robert Were Fox the Younger, a 19th-century scientist who invented a compass that measured magnetic dip at sea in high latitudes, leading to the discovery of the South Pole.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 17 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
The sun fusing with the north node serves as a connective compass.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The yacht is named after Robert Were Fox the Younger, a 19th-century scientist who invented a compass that measured magnetic dip at sea in high latitudes, leading to the discovery of the South Pole.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 17 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
-
Focus on short-term gains instead of purpose and long-term goals so the lack of direction creates even more ambiguity.—
Csaba Toth,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
While the team has endured rough stretches this season, the Devils are trending in the right direction again.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Do Iranian artists find there is more scope for becoming a professional artist in the diaspora?—
Rebecca Ruth Gould,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
To get here, these Tigers outlasted Michigan and then Michigan State, winning their Elite Eight draw with rigid perimeter defense and a 25-point, 14-board Broome showing.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
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,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Four dolphins died, green water and condemned buildings Concerns over conditions at the park began circling in October when three bottlenose dolphins died in just one week.—
Dylan Gentile,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Several minutes later, the witness said a police helicopter began circling the area, and two officers later hiked up the mountain to the shooting scene to speak with witnesses and look for evidence.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Less than a month into the job, Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister plotted their response to a North Korean missile launch in the open-air patio of Mar a Lago, photos of which ended up on Facebook.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
-
During his trial at the Constitutional Court last month, Han denied plotting martial law with Yoon.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
At least one lawsuit surrounding the Seaquarium is currently underway.—
Dylan Gentile,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Fencing will surround most of Market Square, but businesses will remain open and accessible to pedestrians.—
Ryan Deto,
Axios,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Here’s what to know about Booker’s marathon protest.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
-
This was a problem for Sexton, best known for his roles in Bosch, The Killing and Deadwood who was offered a $595,000 deal for the role of Johnson.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
To some extent, investors are simply anticipating the negative impact that slower growth, or an outright slump, will have on corporate profits.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
That’s what Nottingham Forest and, to an extent, Bournemouth and Fulham did a couple of seasons ago and Brentford before that.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compass. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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