circumnavigate

verb

ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgāt How to pronounce circumnavigate (audio)
Definition of circumnavigatenext
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 The first Global Ocean Sampling Expedition, which used Venter’s own yacht, circumnavigated the globe between 2005 and 2006. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026 The Apollo 8 photo, however, showed Earth reemerging into view, rather than disappearing, as astronauts Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell circumnavigated the moon. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026 During the 1969 Apollo 10 mission — the one in which Thomas Stafford, John Young and Eugene Cernan circumnavigated the moon — Stafford reported back to mission control on Day 6 of the mission that a piece of waste was floating through the cabin, according to once-confidential government documents. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026 Is there a market for a live-aboard cruise ship that will visit 140 countries and circumnavigate the world? — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate
  1. traverse
  2. bypass
  3. circle
  4. circumvent
  5. orbit
  6. avoid
  7. encircle
  8. cross
Verb
  • And while Jonas is no stranger to traversing the nation, often on a tour bus, he may not have been accustomed to the way it was done on the commercial’s set.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The ride reaches speeds of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, while traversing 4,100 feet of track, two towering inverted loops and a pretzel loop.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of traverse
Verb
  • While not a common path for elite Japanese amateurs, bypassing the NPB draft would not be unprecedented.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Recent incidents, like OpenAI's models bypassing controls and Anthropic's models accessing real systems, underscore this threat.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of bypass
Verb
  • Given that, markets are in guessing mode on which option the Fed will circle in later this month.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Lavin points to a franchise staple as the moment worth circling.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of circle
Verb
  • For a while, Michael believed that Leah would somehow try to circumvent the school’s vaccine requirements.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz remains in place, secondary sanctions are being tightened, and pressure is being increased on countries and financial networks that have allowed Tehran to circumvent previous restrictions.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of circumvent
Verb
  • Among the most interesting structures found there are stellar streams — long, narrow trails of stars that orbit a galaxy.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The observatory will orbit at the same location as NASA's James Webb Space Telescope while facing away from Earth on the side opposite the sun.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of orbit
Verb
  • City officials asked people to avoid the downtown area where police are investigating the shooting.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • Instead of gold watches, silver handcuffs encircled their wrists.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • There are no bleachers, so spectators set up lawn chairs encircling the field.
    — Kelenna Onukwugha, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of encircle
Verb
  • India, as an ally of the United States, would be crossing a red line by offering direct or even indirect aid to Tehran, given the extensive sanctions placed on the regime.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Across from Laurel, a Black woman crosses her arms over her stomach, her short Afro behind a headband.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cross

Browse Nearby Words

circumlocutory
circumnavigate
circumnavigated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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