1
as in to circumvent
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
the eager enlistee sidestepped the regulations by lying about his age
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sidestep
The Nintendo Direct announced the Switch 2 release date but sidestepped discussing its price, leaving fans riled up online.
—
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
But the real time adaptability sidesteps this challenge by dynamically compensating for these variations, greatly enhancing reliability and yield.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
Responding with specifics from the 22nd Amendment, the Meet the Press host sidestepped the obvious authoritarian nature of what Trump was saying and got into the Constitutional weeds.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2025
The Guardians sidestepped Kansas City’s ninth-inning rally to beat the Royals 7-4 in extra innings on opening day.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
But the real time adaptability sidesteps this challenge by dynamically compensating for these variations, greatly enhancing reliability and yield.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
Responding with specifics from the 22nd Amendment, the Meet the Press host sidestepped the obvious authoritarian nature of what Trump was saying and got into the Constitutional weeds.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2025
The Guardians sidestepped Kansas City’s ninth-inning rally to beat the Royals 7-4 in extra innings on opening day.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestep
Verb
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In 2025, anticipate a more surgical integration of AI with real-world systems, sparking innovation built on the increasingly sophisticated replication of agentic workloads, or else technology circumventing the need for AI altogether.—
Ruth Foxe Blader,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Lutnick said a comprehensive approach was needed so that small nations could not be used by larger countries to circumvent the tariffs.—
Douglas Gillison, Ted Hesson,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Sherrod opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown, weaving through the defense before breaking into the open backfield.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Apr. 2025
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Emotive, enchanting and exotic, the track weaves kalimba and chanting vocals with soft, brooding piano and string parts — and even a subtle harp.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
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Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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New Yorkers spend so much time ducking crises that get lobbed at them like Molotov cocktails that the need to prepare the post-automotive city feels less immediate.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
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Mexican news outlets, including El Universal, reported that video surveillance showed Hernandez managed to escape while running almost naked through the streets before ducking under a tarp that was covering a vehicle.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most of these are fine goals, and some (such as finally terminating the university’s efforts to evade a Supreme Court–ordered end to its use of race discrimination in admissions) ought to be uncontroversial.—
The Editors,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2025
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Security scrutinized: Suspect eluded officers protecting Shapiro Balmer started fires while troopers searched Troopers were able to safely evacuate Shapiro's family and others in the mansion, but the fire raises the question of how Balmer was able to evade security.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His avoidance of assassination by quick reflexes to dodge a bullet's direct hit, and then rising up to display his resilience, provided a perfect tableau to emphasize his survival skills.—
Barbara A. Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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These are simply modern reformulations of the same arguments that monopolistic business interests have always used to try to dodge scrutiny and regulation.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Unlike Revere, who was known as a fierce revolutionary, Dawes might be able to bypass the checkpoint without raising suspicion.—
Ellen Wexler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Brewers bypassed Smith to add starting pitchers Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick while leaving a spot open.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidestep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestep. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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