CIRCUMNAVIGATE Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

circumnavigate

verb

ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgāt

Definition of circumnavigate

as in to traverse

to travel completely around the first ship to circumnavigate the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 That said, Amazon also has a history of disabling apps that let users circumnavigate its home screen that Fire devices, including Fire Sticks and Fire TVs, have increasingly used for ads. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026 Chicagoan Bill Pinkney sailed into Boston Harbor having circumnavigated the globe all by himself, the third American and the first Black person to have accomplished the feat by taking a route that included the five southernmost capes. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumnavigate

Verb

According to Clarksons, 36 percent of container capacity routed via the canal or the Cape of Good Hope traversed the Suez in early October, up from 8 percent between 2024 and mid-2026.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
The program takes advantage of showcasing its expansive bounty, with inventive displays of all the ways in which these artifacts traverse borders of time and space.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of traverse

Verb

Upwards of 80% of the power for the facility will come directly from wind farms operated by the company, bypassing the grid completely, Envision says.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Giulia eventually entered through the back door, inadvertently bypassing the cameras Conor had set up to capture her reaction.

— Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bypass

Verb

Over the past 100,000 years, Halley's Comet has probably circled the sun well over a thousand times, leaving a fresh trail of debris on every visit.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Democrats have circled Alaska, a typically reliable Republican state, as a winnable seat in their bid to flip the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of circle

Verb

The lawsuit marks the latest crackdown under the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, also known as the BOTS Act, which bans scalpers from circumventing ticket limits with technology.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
And good for Stuart and Eidra for confirming her new perception of the situation and facilitating a new plan to circumvent Todd’s participation in her conversation with Vaughn.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of circumvent

Verb

Recently, A'ja Wilson charged aggressively toward a fan in the stands and avoided a suspension.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The group chose roads that would keep them moving, avoiding excessive stop-start riding at traffic lights and intersections wherever possible.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

In 2010, Cassini watched as a giant storm formed in Saturn's northern hemisphere, then grew to encircle the entire planet through 2011.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Earlier, the Houthis seized several villages and areas on Taiz's outskirts, paving the way for the rebels to encircle Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city.

— AHMED AL-HAJ, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of encircle

Verb

Several lawmakers tried to crack down on immigration during the 2026 legislative session, but all but one bill failed to cross the finish line.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
Rival urban commuters often cross the $1,500 threshold when fitted with hydraulic brakes and advanced torque sensors so Lectric’s US$1,099 price tag is head-turning.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of cross

Browse Nearby Words

circumlocutory

circumnavigate

circumnavigated

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumnavigate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of circumnavigate

verb

Example Sentences

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