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 fulfils
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
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
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
-
When the lines of a CME’s magnetic field and those of the Earth’s magnetic field are pointed in the opposite directions, the CME can unite with the Earth’s magnetosphere and fill it with vast quantities of solar energy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
However, Sunday also featured two teams clearly trending in opposite directions.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At launch, there will be 18 maps to compete on and 30 weapons to unlock, with dozens of customization options allowing users to fine tune their guns’ scopes, grips, barrels, and more.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
-
They can also be modified to accommodate different rounds, scopes and lighter stocks made of fiberglass.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The final dish is super soft and gooey towards the center (that is its name, after all), but the edges get beautifully crisped and well-browned.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The petrified waterfalls have turquoise pools perched on cliff edges.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, as Team Ellison circles, the quick-footed WBD CEO supposedly has attracted the interest of Amazon and Netflix as potential buyers – or at least that’s the word on Warner Boulevard.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The route circles the Yucatán and connects the peninsula to the neighboring states of Chiapas and Tabasco.—
Simon Willis,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As such, Adam starts to turn Jamie Tanner (David Duchovny) and Nat (Carice Van Houten) against each other and secretly plots to bring down the entire family.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Boxing’s heavyweight division could be set for another shift as Oleksandr Usyk plots his return to the ring in 2026.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This is the second part of a series exploring electric bicycles, their local impact and the ongoing controversy that surrounds them.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The report released this week surrounds a state antisemitism complaint filed by Oakland’s Law Office of Marleen Sacks.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And the remaining steps of the plan—the disarming of Hamas, the fielding of an international security force, and the establishment of a governing committee of Palestinian technocrats—will be a challenge, for the simple reason that no one knows how to do any of them.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Tilz Collection Herbs and Spices Advent Calendar Every chef knows that a meal isn’t complete without spices, and your family’s favorite cook will love this spread of premium spices.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Since March 30, the planet of dreams and subconscious realms has been testing the waters in Aries, hinting at a new collective era of self-reinvention and spiritual autonomy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Multiple units can also be combined to create a larger development, unlocking potential in the realms of luxury hospitality and adventure travel.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compasses. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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