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 And joining the Apollo 13 crew after having first served on Apollo 8, which intentionally circumnavigated the moon but did not land on its surface, made Lovell the first human ever to see the moon up close for a second time. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025 In other words, without leaving the roadways of California’s capital city, 11 vehicles traveled far enough to circumnavigate the earth two and a half times, or a quarter of the way to the moon. Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025 The route for the boat, which would require recharging, could be to circumnavigate Manhattan. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 28 June 2025 As the Madden-Julian circumnavigates the globe, its interaction with these atmospheric waves can encourage storm formation. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
Verb
  • The book traverses the story of these relationships elegantly.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Designated a National Historic Landmark, this remarkable route spans more than 64 miles of unspoiled wilderness, traversing the majestic scenery of Colorado and New Mexico.
    Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • From creators building businesses on digital platforms to startups launched by teens, many are bypassing traditional credentials altogether.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The decision safeguards employees' reputations by requiring corrections to personnel records and ensures that future administrations cannot bypass statutory protections to carry out purges of the workforce.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Quasi-moons differ from temporary mini-moons that occasionally orbit Earth such as 2024 PT5, which circled the planet for two months in 2024 and could be an ancient fragment that was blasted off of our primary moon.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Pole dancers circled installations for night-long performances that wrapped around the venue interior.
    Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Clippers have publicly suggested that there is evidence the team did not circumvent salary rules.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Taylor and Travis fall somewhere between the two, with their previous owner evidently looking to circumvent the shelter's current system for taking in pets.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The system in question is the double star V Sagittae located around 10,000 light-years from Earth, containing a white dwarf stellar remnant and its victim companion star, which orbit each other roughly twice every Earth day.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, by sharing so much of Lisa's code, the interface practically demanded a pointing device, and the mouse was selected, even though Raskin had so carefully tried to avoid it.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These writers will work under the latest Public Television Freelance Agreement, which the WGA East ratified in December after a lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiation cycle with PBS, narrowly avoiding a strike.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • By Thursday morning, the fire crew successfully encircled the entire perimeter of the fire in control lines.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, Washington, stands just a few minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a blocky concrete tower encircled by chain-link fencing and razor wire.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The 25-year-old then jogged back to his limping competitor and the two put their arms around each other and crossed the finish line together.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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