scope

noun

ˈskōp How to pronounce scope (audio)
Definition of scopenext
as in extent
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends the company's scope of operations now spans two continents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun scope differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scope are compass, gamut, orbit, range, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

In what contexts can compass take the place of scope?

The words compass and scope are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

When could gamut be used to replace scope?

The meanings of gamut and scope largely overlap; however, gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When can orbit be used instead of scope?

While in some cases nearly identical to scope, orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When is range a more appropriate choice than scope?

While the synonyms range and scope are close in meaning, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

Where would sweep be a reasonable alternative to scope?

In some situations, the words sweep and scope are roughly equivalent. However, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

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 scope The Brazilian government is waiting to fully understand who could be targeted by the ban and what its scope would be, a government source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. —Simon Lewis, USA Today, 29 May 2025 Led by designer Miranda Cullen, the company tackles projects of all scopes, from paint consultations to complete redesigns, as well as commercial and hospitality designs. —Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2025 The backers said limiting the scope of environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act would speed up development. —Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025 The cross emphasized limitations to Welcher’s methodology and knowledge and the scope of his testing. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for scope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scope
  1. extent
  2. realm
  3. range
  4. width
Noun
  • To a lesser extent, McDavid was part of Leon Draisaitl’s Rocket-winning act this season.
    — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • President Trump issued an April 25 executive order requiring his administration to identify and (to the extent legally possible) eliminate anticompetitive federal regulations (in effect, ACMDs).
    — Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of extent
Noun
  • More definitively, the company has made significant progress across the realms of healthcare delivery and life sciences through use-cases such as advancing protein structure prediction models, optimizing medical imaging LLMs and even progressing with VR technology.
    — Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • In that realm, the Padres have fared very well, not just this year but since 2021.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
Definition of realm
Noun
  • Speaking after days of Russia bombarding the Ukrainian capital and other regions with massive aerial attacks, the German chancellor said Monday that his country and other allies had lifted range restrictions.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
  • Delta also gives us a ballpark range that an option has of expiring in the money, giving it value.
    — Michael Martin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of range
Noun
  • But the width of those bands also makes a difference in eliminating interference and increasing speeds.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 22 May 2025
  • His hand length was 9¾ inches, and his hand width was 9 inches.
    — Andy Theobald, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025
Definition of width

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Scope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scope. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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