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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumvent
Months later, Musk's bombastic plan to slash the bureaucracy has been blunted by a flurry of legal challenges that allege DOGE overstepped its authority, circumvented privacy laws, and disregarded protocols for shrinking the workforce.
—
Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 June 2025
Presidents since Nixon have circumvented the resolution by simply not recognizing it or by asserting their power as commander in chief.
—Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025
Ball bearings form a ring around the axle, creating a rolling interface between the axle and the wheel hub, thereby circumventing friction.
—Kai James, The Conversation, 11 June 2025
The proposal includes lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel and introducing a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions in third countries that help Russia circumvent existing sanctions.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 June 2025
Presidents since Nixon have circumvented the resolution by simply not recognizing it or by asserting their power as commander in chief.
—Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025
Ball bearings form a ring around the axle, creating a rolling interface between the axle and the wheel hub, thereby circumventing friction.
—Kai James, The Conversation, 11 June 2025
The proposal includes lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel and introducing a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions in third countries that help Russia circumvent existing sanctions.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvent
Verb
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My team was supposed to do the landing on the moon, of course that got bypassed pretty fast.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
30 June 2025
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His warlike actions in Iran, despite campaign promises to the contrary, blatantly bypassed the need to gain approval from the legislative branch of government.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Giving up athletics had an impact on her body and changes were required to avoid injury.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
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Without an aisle, the box occupants must seat themselves in order from front to back to avoid climbing over one another.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County offers for loan two lightweight, all-terrain wheelchairs, each designed to traverse dirt, gravel, grass, snow and mud, spokeswoman Beth Schirott said.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
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By definition, anybody attempting to move through Venice will meet some, or several, bodies of water to be traversed.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Last year, the Russians began including decoy drones with their Shahed drones to increase the likelihood of evading Ukrainian defenses.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Cochran drove in a manner that indicated to Taylor that the sheriff was trying to evade him, Welch said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Dude’s a lifelong utility player — rock solid on guitar and vocals with the family band, while Willie circles the beat, and a team player with frequent Neil Young backing crew Promise of the Real.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
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Members of the president's national security team circled in and out of the Oval Office throughout much of the day to provide updates, the official said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Police on Friday captured one of the New Orleans parish inmates who escaped six weeks ago in a jailbreak Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the worst in recent state history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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Whenever the lovers escape the family’s attention, the lighting designer Isabella Byrd throws deep shadows over their sometimes naked forms, turning their bodies into lubricious, moving Caravaggios.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
26 June 2025
Verb
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As of Wednesday evening, the fire crew successfully encircled the entire perimeter of the fire in control lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
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These are classic Quad features have been updated and authentically engineered, and work alongside a larger rotary control for the analog volume stage and is encircled with orange LEDs to show the current volume level.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Those who depend on freewheeling and shoot-from-the-hip strategies and tactics to address a crisis are ignoring or disregarding fundamental crisis management best practices that favor a calm, deliberate, and thoughtful approach.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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While Paladino’s nonsense was rightfully ignored, a letter from a member of the House majority to the AG may not be ignored, especially this AG, especially under this president.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circumvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvent. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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