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
  • That would be an 18% decline from the same period last year, equating to by far the weakest quarterly deliveries growth since at least 2015, the extent of quarterly delivery data available on Tesla’s investor relations website.
    — Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The specific extent and locations depend on unpredictable currents and wind patterns, with annual peaks historically occurring in midsummer.
    — Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 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
  • At O’Neill Burke’s request, Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans granted her prosecutors rapid access to a far broader range of records on criminal defendants than had long been the case.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • Russia’s claim comes days after its forces advanced further in the northern Sumy region, bringing the region’s capital within range of drones and artillery.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 8 June 2025
Definition of range
Noun
  • The width of your clenched first from your thumb to the other side of your hand is about 10 degrees, while the thickness of your little finger accounts for around 1 degree in the night sky.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 June 2025
  • Hence the width of this beast – that kite is designed to pull hard from one side, and the rest of the boat is designed to turn that pull into maximum forward velocity while resisting rollover.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 June 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 12 Jun. 2025.

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