This study investigates the impacts of gravity waves (GWs) on thermospheric circulation and composition using the high-resolution Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere/ionosphere extension (WACCM-X). The results show that GWs propagate anisotropically, with stronger eastward components at most altitudes. The dissipation of these waves in the thermosphere produces a net eastward forcing that reaches peak values between 200 and 250 km at mid-high latitudes in both hemispheres. This leads to a weakened winter hemisphere circulation and an enhanced summer hemisphere circulation, which in turn affects thermospheric composition. Notably, the column integrated O/N₂ in both hemispheres is reduced and agrees better with observations. The mean thermospheric GW forcing in the meridional direction has comparable amplitude and acts to modify the gradient-wind relationship. The study highlights the importance of resolving GWs in models to accurately simulate thermospheric composition and circulation, as previous models often overestimated the O/N₂ ratio. The high-resolution simulations show that GWs significantly influence the thermospheric circulation and composition, with the strongest effects observed in the winter hemisphere. The results suggest that the improved agreement with observations is due to the more accurate representation of GW effects in the high-resolution model. The study also emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the role of circulation at different altitudes in influencing thermospheric composition.This study investigates the impacts of gravity waves (GWs) on thermospheric circulation and composition using the high-resolution Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere/ionosphere extension (WACCM-X). The results show that GWs propagate anisotropically, with stronger eastward components at most altitudes. The dissipation of these waves in the thermosphere produces a net eastward forcing that reaches peak values between 200 and 250 km at mid-high latitudes in both hemispheres. This leads to a weakened winter hemisphere circulation and an enhanced summer hemisphere circulation, which in turn affects thermospheric composition. Notably, the column integrated O/N₂ in both hemispheres is reduced and agrees better with observations. The mean thermospheric GW forcing in the meridional direction has comparable amplitude and acts to modify the gradient-wind relationship. The study highlights the importance of resolving GWs in models to accurately simulate thermospheric composition and circulation, as previous models often overestimated the O/N₂ ratio. The high-resolution simulations show that GWs significantly influence the thermospheric circulation and composition, with the strongest effects observed in the winter hemisphere. The results suggest that the improved agreement with observations is due to the more accurate representation of GW effects in the high-resolution model. The study also emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the role of circulation at different altitudes in influencing thermospheric composition.