outflank
verb
out·flank
ˌau̇t-ˈflaŋk 
outflanked; outflanking; outflanks
1
: to get around the flank of (an opposing force)
2
: get around, circumvent
trying to outflank the competition
Examples of outflank in a Sentence
The army outflanked the enemy.
trying to outflank the competition
Recent Examples on the Web
With the Buffalo Bills getting outflanked by rival New England, the NFL has no unbeaten teams heading into Week 6.
—
J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
The result is a marketplace where first-time and lower-income buyers, often reliant on financing, are outflanked by older, equity-rich, and wealthier competitors.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Trump quickly outflanked his Democratic opponents by changing the conversation with a memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget directing agencies to prepare for mass layoffs of federal workers at programs not aligned with the president’s priorities.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
They’re getting outflanked on defense on a consistent basis by basic, basic concepts by Indianapolis.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outflank
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J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
The result is a marketplace where first-time and lower-income buyers, often reliant on financing, are outflanked by older, equity-rich, and wealthier competitors.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Trump quickly outflanked his Democratic opponents by changing the conversation with a memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget directing agencies to prepare for mass layoffs of federal workers at programs not aligned with the president’s priorities.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
They’re getting outflanked on defense on a consistent basis by basic, basic concepts by Indianapolis.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outflank
Cite this Entry
“Outflank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outflank. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outflank
verb
out·flank
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈflaŋk
: to get around the side of (a military formation)
outflank the enemy
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