as in surrounding
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1
as in circling
to travel completely around
communication satellites encircling the earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in encompassing
to form a circle around
immediately after announcing their engagement, the couple was encircled by their applauding friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encircling
Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The silhouette also included a slender strap encircling the ankle.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
For two days, Chinese warships and aircraft simulated a blockade of the global chip hub with live-fire exercises encircling the main island, while dozens of rockets struck waters near its northern and eastern ends on Tuesday.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Live-fire activities would take place in five maritime and airspace zones encircling the island on Tuesday, according to information released by the command.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
The silk-crepe and chiffon dress features a gauzy pink, iridescent overlay and fuschia lining with a halterneck style top fastened with candy pink feathers, and more feathers encircling the hips.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Astronomers have unveiled a stunning new gallery of dusty rings encircling young stars, revealing the intricate architecture of developing planetary systems.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
There is a lot of red—99 naval and coast guard vessels, to be precise, completely encircling Taiwan during PLA exercises last December.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The vents encircling the stand’s rounded top handle cooling.
—PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
The original Imperial Hotel, an icon of the encircling Ginza neighborhood, was constructed in 1923 by Frank Lloyd Wright.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The silhouette also included a slender strap encircling the ankle.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
For two days, Chinese warships and aircraft simulated a blockade of the global chip hub with live-fire exercises encircling the main island, while dozens of rockets struck waters near its northern and eastern ends on Tuesday.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Live-fire activities would take place in five maritime and airspace zones encircling the island on Tuesday, according to information released by the command.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
The silk-crepe and chiffon dress features a gauzy pink, iridescent overlay and fuschia lining with a halterneck style top fastened with candy pink feathers, and more feathers encircling the hips.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Astronomers have unveiled a stunning new gallery of dusty rings encircling young stars, revealing the intricate architecture of developing planetary systems.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
There is a lot of red—99 naval and coast guard vessels, to be precise, completely encircling Taiwan during PLA exercises last December.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The vents encircling the stand’s rounded top handle cooling.
—PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encircling
Adjective
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Since then, the bustling market serves the surrounding and significant Latino community and others.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The investigation revealed the controller, distracted by a third plane circling the airport, delayed clearing the SkyWest flight for takeoff and failed to monitor the runway and airspace adequately.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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As soon as Robinson snapped the blade in, Khusnutdinov jumped onto the ice and joined the weave in the offensive zone, dropping the puck for the circling Pastrnak, who then executed the pretty give-and-go with McAvoy for the winner.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The saints’ days are celebrated, the great days of history are celebrated, and they’re celebrated with this sort of enormous exuberance and deep investment that is somehow very, very touching, very embracing, and very inclusive.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This does not prevent the sports-media ecosystem from orbiting around prediction-making, an obsession that has only ballooned in the age of legal sports betting.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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So mature, his conviction, his instincts, his fearlessness, and to give something which is so different yet so connecting.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Over the coming years, a team of 57 scientists and local guides explored all the major rivers and tributaries of the Okavango Delta, traversing this vast landscape in dugout canoes, on motorbikes, on foot, and in armored vehicles.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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What consumers need is someone and something focused on the actual experience of traversing the fractured content universe.—
Howard Homonoff,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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From the pews, those gathered joined musicians, clapping and raising their hands in the air to begin the service.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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So Garcia re-joined in tricky circumstances, and with a lot of expectation on his shoulders.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The designation only applies to the sign, not the attached building, which houses Americana Pizza.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
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Perhaps the most attractive feature for the restaurant — which sits about four blocks away from Bank of America Stadium, right where South End and uptown come together — is its attached parking deck.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encircling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encircling. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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