1
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure
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2
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
that company is the cynosure for anyone wishing to make it in the music business
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Recent Examples of cynosure
From these beginnings, the Voice grew into a cynosure of the counterculture.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
The Celtic cynosure in the 100-96 triumph, Tatum logged a team-best 26 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists while scoring 7 vital fourth-quarter points.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022
While the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, attracted intense national attention and became a cynosure of criticism after the company’s introduction of its blockbuster pill OxyContin, the Mallinckrodt brand slipped under the radar.
—Washington Post, 10 May 2022
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The film’s screenplay, co-written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, finds its metaphoric cynosure in the Japanese concept of komorebi, which describes the play of light and shadow through the leaves of a tree, every shimmering moment unique.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Past the age of fifty, the supple cynosure of the salons turned into something of a tottering wreck.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
MotoGP is the cynosure for those drawn to the heady blend of terror and enticement that defines the quest to go mind-numbingly fast.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023
As their cynosure, Ernestine herself remains a cipher, full of portentous sayings but little real thought.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2022
The setting had all the elements of a stirring, emotional clash: an underlying sense of betrayal, accusations of soulless greed, the prospect of transformative change and a popular, beloved figure trapped in the cynosure of the firestorm.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 16 June 2022
The Celtic cynosure in the 100-96 triumph, Tatum logged a team-best 26 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists while scoring 7 vital fourth-quarter points.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2022
While the Sackler family, which owned Purdue, attracted intense national attention and became a cynosure of criticism after the company’s introduction of its blockbuster pill OxyContin, the Mallinckrodt brand slipped under the radar.
—Washington Post, 10 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynosure
Noun
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Advice for Founders For aspiring founders, your instincts are your most reliable compass.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Additionally, tools like the map and compass are unreadable at night.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The puzzle at the center of The Accountant 2 matters insofar as the film needs a narrative propellant.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Mar. 2025
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Southwest Coast Though the wild, untamed north and forested center of Grenada are well worth a visit, most travelers stick almost exclusively to the sandy southwest coast.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Cooperman expressed both support and misgivings about the direction President Donald Trump has taken while pursuing tariffs against U.S. trading partners.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2025
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The final look was all sleekness and shine and natural flow — fitting into the overall bohemian direction of her look that evening.—
Stacia Datskovska,
WWD,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Those who love thrifting will also find the city a mecca for preloved vintage goods.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
2 Mar. 2025
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The most urgent big-wave alert, a high surf warning, is in effect for parts of Hawaii, including surfing's mecca, the North Shore, where waves of 50 feet are possible Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC News,
22 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Kennedy also claimed the reason the children were hospitalized was for quarantine purposes.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2025
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Social recognition is written by employees who are eager to shout to the rooftops about their colleagues – with the express purpose of sharing it.—
Eric Mosley,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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More Deebo Samuel news: 49ers Send Star WR Deebo Samuel to Commanders in Blockbuster Trade Samuel will take his talents to the nation's capital and look to take the Commanders to the next level after an excellent year for the young Washington team.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Small-caps — which Fidelity defines as companies with market values between $300 million and $2 billion — typically have fewer financial resources, limited access to capital, and often rely heavily on debt.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On Friday, the association, which has been supporting talents of different backgrounds with an original focus on the African continent, gathered industry figures at hip member’s club The Wilde to spotlight 10 fashion creatives.—
Martino Carrera,
WWD,
28 Feb. 2025
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To thrive long-term, Dogecoin needs to shift its focus from hype to fundamental development, real-world applications, and regulatory compliance.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Casa Loewe is not only an emotional hub for art and culture enthusiasts but also a tangible embodiment of the brand’s artistic essence.—
WWD,
WWD,
28 Feb. 2025
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The telecommunications equipment factory was for years a hub of technical and white-collar jobs.—
Kevin Spear,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to cynosure
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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