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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The Apollo 8 photo, however, showed Earth reemerging into view, rather than disappearing, as astronauts Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell circumnavigated the moon. Denise Chow, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026 During the 1969 Apollo 10 mission — the one in which Thomas Stafford, John Young and Eugene Cernan circumnavigated the moon — Stafford reported back to mission control on Day 6 of the mission that a piece of waste was floating through the cabin, according to once-confidential government documents. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026 Four are named in honor of different Miami Dolphins players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame that circumnavigate South Florida – the DCC 5K along with the Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, Zach Thomas and Jason Tyler Rides. Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026 Superpressure balloons can last for months and travel long distances, potentially circumnavigating the globe, all the while reporting their position. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
  • Whereas the sights and sounds of South End lean toward bar crowds and joggers traversing the Rail Trail, SouthPark is more about catching a whiff of Le Labo and seeing couples settle in at a corner table with glasses of Cabernet and small plates.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026
  • Like Orton’s prior work, The Ground Above traverses some tricky emotional terrain.
    David Harris, SPIN, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • When a user asks an AI to find a running shoe that can arrive by Friday for under $100, the agent bypasses the company's storefront entirely.
    Arne Jeroschewski, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Commissioners also discussed Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows qualifying housing developments to bypass certain local zoning regulations.
    Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The evening of the shoot, there was frequent hum of tourist helicopters circling the island, and a few party boats blasting music, which threatened to put a damper on the plans.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • Minutes later the pike was just under the surface, circling close to the boat.
    Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Former Republican Secretary of State and election law attorney Scott Gessler, who represented plaintiffs in court, says Democrats tried to circumvent the constitution by bringing two separate but interdependent measures.
    Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are strategically building plants in Europe to circumvent potential tariffs and secure their market presence.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Wasley Products was part of the Navstar orbiting satellite which worked within a cluster of 24 satellites to provide accurate navigational position for ships, land vehicles, people and aircraft to an accuracy of three feet.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
  • Rather than photographing the black hole itself, the telescope captured glowing material orbiting just outside its event horizon.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Other methods to reduce the harm from sweltering temperatures include more breaks and flexible shifts so workers can avoid the midday sun, according to the WHO.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • While the morning may feel personal — especially if someone questions your judgment, appearance or direction — avoid treating their feedback (or silence) as rejection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • While most people enjoy eating the arils after separating them from the bitter white membrane that encircle them, other parts of the fruit can also be used to make juice or extracts.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The island had gone from farm and pasture in the nineteenth century to nature preserves and residential property in the twentieth, its silvery shingled homes encircled by forests and deer.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • After Florian Wirtz crossed in from the left side of the pitch, Kai Havertz got just enough of his head on the ball to flick it into the far side of the goal.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • Vic examines the game’s boundaries and repeatedly crosses them, while mostly failing to keep a straight face.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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