1
as in to bypass
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
employees who try to circumvent the company's dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to avoid
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to traverse
to travel completely around
most casual joggers will be able to circumvent the reservoir without too much of a strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of circumvent
But as audiences soon learned, the slayings were only a vision of Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene), which was ultimately circumvented by avoiding a battle with the sinister Volturi at the story's conclusion.
—
Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
But now, a new study in the journal Science has demonstrated how AI could be used to easily circumvent those biosafety processes.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
This gambit circumvents the notorious way that measurements destroy quantumness.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
To circumvent rising tariffs, onshoring seems like an answer.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
But now, a new study in the journal Science has demonstrated how AI could be used to easily circumvent those biosafety processes.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
This gambit circumvents the notorious way that measurements destroy quantumness.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
To circumvent rising tariffs, onshoring seems like an answer.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvent
Verb
-
Now, former officials say, orders are bypassing lawyers entirely, or being glimpsed by legal experts sympathetic to Hegseth's and the White House's agenda.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Affair with a lobbyist and a divorce Flora has been able to bypass questions about his behavior in the past.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Takaichi gave up her beloved Kawasaki Z400GP motorcycle after becoming a lawmaker in 1993 at age 32, reportedly to avoid accidents that could hinder her work.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s also the issue the many insta-death areas that require wall jumping to traverse.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
-
This 84-mile loop begins and ends in Taos and traverses the high alpine desert of northern New Mexico and several mountain towns, including Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Questa, and Red River.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
-
To try to evade the immune system, pathogens develop similarities to human cells as a form of camouflage.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The altitude is low enough to allow for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Two traditional Chinese dancers enter the frame, gracefully circling the robots as classical music plays.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Methane has been measured escaping from crevices in the seabed at a high rate as the region warms at unprecedented rates, according to a paper published in Nature Communications.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Ring of Fire is a vast tectonic belt encircling much of the Pacific Ocean, known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Then the older elephants — Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi — scramble to encircle and shield the two 7-year-old calves Zuli and Mkhaya from any possible threats.—
Nina Græger,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Prizegivers have also in the past been accused of being snobbish, of having an anti-American bias and of ignoring some of the giants of literature, including Russia's Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, France's Emile Zola and Ireland's James Joyce.—
Simon Johnson,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Hoping the broadcasts ignore that will always be a fruitless endeavor.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circumvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvent. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share