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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2026
Witnesses said as soon as shots rang out, the group began running and bystanders on the block began taking cover, some ducking behind school buses.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Several trays of cooked ducks and egg rolls were covered inside the walk-in refrigerator.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duck
Verb
Once upon a time, Paul Thomas Anderson ducked into a movie theater in the Netherlands.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2026
Witnesses said as soon as shots rang out, the group began running and bystanders on the block began taking cover, some ducking behind school buses.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
But a seahorse is a fish, and so is Bombay duck.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Several trays of cooked ducks and egg rolls were covered inside the walk-in refrigerator.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
Verb
-
Start with the bottom branches to avoid adding more weight to lower limbs.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Reconciliation, by contrast, allowed Republicans to pass fiscal and revenue-related farm provisions with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster and avoiding a stalemate that could have stretched on for years.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Before every artful-minded modern horror film became about grief and trauma, The Babadook explored these themes with authenticity, deftly weaving in Amelia's grief over the loss of her husband and her inability to control her son with traditional horror tropes.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Across it, Thomas embraces maximalism, weaving together R&B, funk, and psychedelic rock to showcase his wide array of influences (everyone from D’Angelo to Jimi Hendrix) and talents as a multi-instrumentalist.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier this week at a photo call in London, Robbie also dipped her toe into the late 1700s by way of a John Galliano brocade frock coat styled with a black mini skirt, thigh-high scarlet red stockings and satin Manolo Blahnik pumps.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Cut a lemon in half and dip the cut edge in salt or baking soda to provide some abrasive action.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bill would also require businesses that sell delivery goods, such as grocery delivery providers or DoorDash, to list a comparison of the delivery price versus the regular price if the goods were to be bought in-person at the store.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
If those extra months incur large public healthcare costs, or if that person’s continued life means one’s great grandchildren receive a substantially smaller bequest, those factors typically aren’t reflected in the patient’s personal willingness to pay.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Platforms evade responsibility by invoking Section 230 and the language of free speech, while in practice exercising enormous editorial power over what the public sees, believes and reacts to.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Williams has multiple past felony charges, including drug charges, evading arrest, and evidence tampering.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, Denver7 heard from Douglas County residents, including a Parker woman who feels the move hinders productive conversations around local issues and is merely a way for the commissioners to dodge criticism and accountability.—
thedenverchannel.com,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Nate Paul, the one-time superstar Austin developer who played a central role in the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, dodged jail time again Monday.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If extremely dirty, they can be very briefly dunked into cold water and wiped dry.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
-
McCoy dunked hard at the rim off the dribble, from a lob and even got a couple put-backs off his own misses.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Martinez and another man were charged in October with assault with a deadly weapon, accused of following the agents' vehicles and initiating the collision with Exum's SUV that led to the shooting on Chicago's south side.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Pretti was shot while agents were evidently seeking to detain a man, Jose Huerta-Chuma, whom Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said had an extensive criminal record including domestic assault.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
