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
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Recent Examples of circumvent
The six-part series, which is now going into production, centers on an ordinary couple who stage a fake divorce in order to circumvent the USSR’s rigid real-estate policies and save their apartment from nationalization.
—
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
The league accused Rodman of circumventing the salary cap and the NWSL Players Association promptly filed a grievance against the league on her behalf.
—Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
But critics see it as effectively the same practice, circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
In today’s case, by claiming that the Iranian regime was posing an imminent threat to the United States, the president can more easily circumvent congressional approval for military action and then turn to Congress after the fact if further action is needed.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
The league accused Rodman of circumventing the salary cap and the NWSL Players Association promptly filed a grievance against the league on her behalf.
—Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
But critics see it as effectively the same practice, circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
In today’s case, by claiming that the Iranian regime was posing an imminent threat to the United States, the president can more easily circumvent congressional approval for military action and then turn to Congress after the fact if further action is needed.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvent
Verb
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Saudi Arabia is also bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, sending some of oil by pipeline across the country to be shipped from a Red Sea port.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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To bypass the red tape, the SINTEF team built its own craft from the ground up in its specialized drone laboratory.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Unlike CO₂-based models, these atmospheres avoid collapse.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
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Police urged the public to avoid the area and asked anyone who sees someone matching the description to call 911.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While oil that traverses the strait is usually bound for Asia and other places rather than North America, the chaos still affects the United States.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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Like Samut, Chawarit had had misgivings about traversing the strait, his wife Suchawadee Malikaeo told CNN.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Electric vehicles don’t use gasoline or diesel, allowing their owners to evade the primary user-fee system that maintains those roads.—
Louis Sigaud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
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Police are searching for a suspect who jumped into the water at Mill Basin to evade police.—
John Dias,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some names, like Marist’s Kate Harpring and Wheeler’s Colben Landrew, were circled by many before the week began.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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Almost seven years after starting to build out its broadband constellation in low Earth orbit, SpaceX now has more than 10,000 active Starlink satellites circling the planet.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The former dictates an excessively politicized life, the latter an effort to escape from the political.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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If a moon’s atmosphere allows gases to condense, much of this heat would escape into space.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rooms Spread over a handful of buildings encircling the central courtyard, Aleenta Retreat's 44 rooms range from spacious deluxe rooms with lounge-y balconies to two-story residences with two bedrooms and a small private courtyard with a plunge pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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The cuff needs to encircle your upper arm to get a good reading.—
Mara Gordon,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Red, white and blue and Venezuela’s yellow, blue and red filled the stadium -- as did the political overtones the WBC could not ignore.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 17,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
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But when platitudes aren’t backed by action, the disparity between branding and behavior becomes impossible to ignore.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvent. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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