This is why Lounis Aït-Menguellet sings “You took away misery, it gave birth to twins; you have broken your chains, they have turned to encircle you even more ...” Listen to him.
Source: tatoeba (10308943)
Encircle
/ɪnˈsɜːkl̩/
Synonyms for "encircle" (228 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (46)
admitassimilatebandbegirdbeleaguerbeltbelt inbesetbesiegebindblockadeborderboundbox incagechambercincturecirclecircuitcircuiteer
Show 4 more words
Noun(15 words)
beleagueringcincturescircle graphcircle markcircle of friendscircle radiuscircle shapecircle the answercircle the blockcircle the key termscircle time activitiescircled graphcirclescirclingcircling pattern
Strong matches (68)
Verb(13 words)
Noun(12 words)
circumscribingcoilingcompassescompassingenclosingenclosing actionencompassingenvelopingenvironsflock livingfringinggarters
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (114)
Noun(23 words)
girdlegirdle the globego aboutgo aroundgo around in circlesgo roundgo the roundgyrehaloharassharryhedge inhemhem inholdhold inhousehouse inimpoundimprison
Show 53 more words
incarcerateincludeincorporateinvestjailkennellaplay siege toleaguerloopmake a circuitmantlemewmew upnumber amongoccupyorbitpenpen inpocketquarantinerail inreceivereckon amongreckon inreckon withrevolveringroundshrineshut inshut upsiegeskirtsoften upspiralstablesurroundtake intake into accounttake into considerationtake uptwinetwine aroundwall inwheelwindwrapwreathewreathe aroundyardyard upzone
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: circle, admit, annulate, assimilate, band.
- Sentence evidence is available for encircle, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "encircle".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "encircle"
Keep "encircle" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "encircle" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "encircle", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "encircle" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriescircular boundarydefensive encirclementencirclementencirclement strategyring perimetersurrounding circle
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
A territory is the set of intersections that a player has managed to encircle with his stones in such a way that it has become impregnable.
Source: tatoeba (10354524)
In the game of Go, each player tries from the beginning to encircle as many empty spaces, that is as much territory, as possible.
Source: tatoeba (10357460)
"Friday!" she called out, bursting open the doors and quickly encircling her friend in the warmth of her arms.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "encircle"?
Closest matches include circle, admit, annulate, assimilate, band.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "encircle"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.