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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Example Sentences
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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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The watch also features an accelerometer, a barometer, a compass, a gyroscope, and a temperature sensor.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 July 2025
-
Smith Baker said one of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation’s guiding principles especially resonates with her: Community is a compass.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Grab a bike to cycle between the beachfront and the town center, whether in search of tacos or to scope out the latest collection of luxury villas transforming downtown Tulum.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
19 July 2025
-
The National Park Service runs the monument and its small visitor center, which is thorough, though nearly all graphics.—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard closed at Loop 101 Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard in Scottsdale was scheduled to close in both directions at Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) from 9 p.m. July 25 to 5 a.m. July 28 for a widening project, according to ADOT.—
Olivia Rose,
AZCentral.com,
26 July 2025
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But huge early bets in the wrong direction can doom your venture.—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
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For the past few years, Lilly has made news by driving large-scale investments in the LEAP Innovation District, billed as a future manufacturing and tech mecca in Lebanon, Indiana.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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As Almeyda makes her journey towards this elusive mecca, both the idea of Palmares and Almeyda’s journey toward it feel like hallucinatory visions: Vibrantly conjured, indeed mythic in intention and impact.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Legally, the Department of Defense can make military bases available to any federal, state or local law enforcement officials for law enforcement purposes, according to the National Immigration Law Center.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
-
As Wolf says, cannabis hospitality’s future belongs to those who serve purpose, not novelty — building a new kind of travel rooted in mindfulness, connection and place.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
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The city is already making cuts, such as by not filling open positions and by stopping capital projects that are not absolutely required, Laesch said.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
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Ferguson will wear the No 11 shirt in the Italian capital.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Transitioning to the analysis phase, the focus shifts to evaluating your processes and IT landscape to identify areas for rationalization or optimization.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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The collection combines Wrangler’s denim and cowboy roots with State’s focus on functional design.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
22 July 2025
Noun
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And true to that mission, the stall has become a community hub, a place for conversation and for people to reconnect with books and literature.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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For many years, Puerto Rico served as a hub of pharmaceutical manufacturing for the United States.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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