1
as in directions
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 scopes
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
within the compass of my voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in edges
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 implements
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 circles
to travel completely around
the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in plots
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 surrounds
to form a circle around
a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in knows
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 compasses
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 Jan. 2026
Over 1,000 years ago, explorers began using compasses, typically made with a floating cork or piece of wood with a magnetized needle in it, to find their way.
—Scott Brame, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Starting in 1910, the company served as the secretive supplier to the commandos of the Italian Navy, starting out crafting precision instruments such as gun sights and luminescent compasses before creating its first watches in 1935.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Orienteering is an outdoor sport that requires athletes to navigate between checkpoints using maps and compasses.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
In ordinary magnetic materials, unpaired electrons behave like tiny compasses and eventually align with one another.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 Jan. 2026
Over 1,000 years ago, explorers began using compasses, typically made with a floating cork or piece of wood with a magnetized needle in it, to find their way.
—Scott Brame, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Starting in 1910, the company served as the secretive supplier to the commandos of the Italian Navy, starting out crafting precision instruments such as gun sights and luminescent compasses before creating its first watches in 1935.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Orienteering is an outdoor sport that requires athletes to navigate between checkpoints using maps and compasses.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compasses
Noun
-
There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Clean the dust canister, filter, and brush roll according to the manufacturer's directions.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
First focal plane scopes with MRAD reticles rule the roost in PRS and other field match series.—
John B. Snow,
Outdoor Life,
15 Jan. 2026
-
One white general contractor controls both major scopes of work.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Thanks to its rounded edges and off-the-ground build, the frame still allows the primary bedroom to breathe, even with a moody velvet upholstery.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Homestead, Kendall, Doral and the inner edges of Hialeah are in the severe range.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The organization implements careful deployment of the capital, strengthened by human support to encourage and bolster ideation and creativity processes.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Indiana Health Care Association is estimating a $60-80 million savings annually if the state implements an individual cost limit.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the camera circles the car, two other portions of Kennedy’s speech play in the background.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Many are in critical mineral companies as the White House plots a strategy to directly back mining companies to build a domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on China.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
-
For cyclists, the Coastal Bike Trail plots out a route to see the city and the harbor on two wheels.—
Carolyn Heller,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Political candidates from around Indiana have been redoing paperwork for this spring’s primary ballot as confusion surrounds whether the secretary of state’s office properly processed those forms.—
Tom Davies,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Such is the kind of spotlight that surrounds human trafficking during Super Bowl week.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And by now everybody knows our crew runs the tightest and deadliest ship on the water.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Nobody quite knows what happens to volumes if a drug price is cut, Rothschild & Co Redburn analyst Simon Baker told CNBC.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compasses. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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