1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
don't try to duck your commitment to spending Thanksgiving with your family by claiming you have to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in person
a member of the human race
her coworkers regard her as something of an odd duck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 duck
Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Most congressmen unceremoniously scramble to duck behind their benches.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Catch a hockey game at TD Garden, browse the boutiques of Beacon Hill and Newbury Street, or duck into a cozy tavern for a pint in the Back Bay.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duck
Verb
For a moment, Smith became overwhelmed, ducking to the side of the pillar while wiping tears away.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Most congressmen unceremoniously scramble to duck behind their benches.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
Bo is now enjoying retirement eating his favorite treat, duck jerky, and receiving endless cuddles from Okert and her husband, who also spent over four decades in law enforcement.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Catch a hockey game at TD Garden, browse the boutiques of Beacon Hill and Newbury Street, or duck into a cozy tavern for a pint in the Back Bay.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
Verb
-
Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Bend in the River weaves unpredictably between the three films, the narrative – like a river flowing – assembled with the very considerable assistance of editor Jeff Malmberg.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In decades past, CNN was known in advertising circles for being very cautious about weaving commercials into its news coverage.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The number of cancellations doubled to 148 Tuesday, while the number of delays dipped somewhat to 2,133, the website reported.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Olaplex sales dipped in the third quarter, but surpassed Wall Street sales forecasts.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For every additional person $109 would be added.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
As a childless person who doesn’t teach I’ve been happily unaware that, due to standardized testing requirements that favor close reads of excerpts over whole books, there’s an entire generation of students who have very little contextual framework for the literature they’re being taught in school.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As a result, the government is now forced to sell even more oil on the black market at a discount to evade US government sanctions, one of the economists in Caracas told CNN.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
George Washington pardoned some of those involved in the Whiskey Rebellion, while Jimmy Carter granted a blanket pardon to people who had evaded service in the Vietnam War.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Today's machines can scan your home, dodge obstacles, empty themselves, and adapt their cleaning strategy room by room.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Thaon recalled swimming through snow and dodging rocks until help arrived.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For example, Creamed Corn is dunked in a bright yellow fudge with a light yellow drizzle while the Turkey & Stuffing cookies are aptly brown and, well, brown.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But this time, instead of being used as a dunking tool, the bread is baked right on top.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is pressing charges against a man who was caught on camera touching and attempting to kiss her during a public appearance on Tuesday.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The Little Rock man who, police say, crashed while fleeing from an Arkansas State Police trooper last week now faces first-degree murder counts in the death of two teenage passengers, authorities said Wednesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share