1
as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle
with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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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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Making a list of preferences and priorities can help serve as a compass to guide business leaders toward the jurisdiction that best aligns with their aspirations.—
Jean Francois Harvey,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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The sun fusing with the north node serves as a connective compass.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Ransomware is like a hard-drive failure in a server or storage array, a power outage at the office or data center or a localized or system-wide network outage.—
John Bruggeman,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Michelangelo lived and studied there, and the current complex, across the Arno river from the historic center of Florence, still houses the wooden crucifix carved by the Renaissance master for its basilica.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Gonzalez joined the weightlifting team beginning in her junior season and excelled under the direction of coach Heidi Bowser.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2025
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The pendulum, which swung far toward inclusion in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, is now swinging back in full force in the opposite direction.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Since its founding in 1869, the university has turned Carbondale into a tiny cultural mecca and a powerful economic engine in an otherwise vast, rural region that has been battered by the decline of manufacturing and coal mining.—
Molly Parker,
ProPublica,
27 Mar. 2025
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Critics of the loophole point to Walt Disney as among the first to take advantage of it decades ago when developing its tourist mecca of resorts and theme parks near Orlando.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At that point, sunglasses lose their sine qua non purpose to protect our eyes, becoming a purely ornamental element capable of elevating an entire outfit.—
Teresa Romero Martínez,
Glamour,
22 Mar. 2025
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The automation of jobs by AI could lead to widespread unemployment and economic inequality, leaving many people feeling powerless and without purpose.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Some people plan just a few months ahead, focusing on immediate expenses, while others think decades into the future, prioritizing long-term investments, retirement planning, and strategic capital investing.—
Shane Enete,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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Southern Lebanon was the location of much of Israel's recent air and ground campaign against Hezbollah, with parts of the capital Beirut also devastated.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Toyota’s famous kaizen methodology—continuous improvement driven by employee feedback—demonstrates how internal focus can lead to sustained innovation.—
Mark Nevins,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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Jennifer Ouellette Senior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This is particularly important in Lisbon which, as a hub for TAP Air Portugal, competes for connecting market share with Madrid in the Iberian peninsula, and more broadly across Europe.—
Kevin Rozario,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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One option is 45 minutes away at the major Delta Airlines hub Salt Lake City, home to major sports teams and plenty of venues, which has long played Sundance programming and has a lively film community.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynosure. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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