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
He was arrested in 2020 on federal charges of money laundering while traveling from Venezuela to Iran to negotiate oil deals helping both countries circumvent sanctions.
—
Jim Mustian, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Most states set the legal betting age at 18 or 21, but more kids are circumventing age requirements on platforms to place their latest bets.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
The startups have used their status as federally regulated exchanges to offer sports wagers that circumvent the state laws that have governed online gambling.
—Peyton Forte, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Ahmadian is one of many activists trying to circumvent the Islamic Republic’s attempts to halt communication.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Jim Mustian, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Most states set the legal betting age at 18 or 21, but more kids are circumventing age requirements on platforms to place their latest bets.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
The startups have used their status as federally regulated exchanges to offer sports wagers that circumvent the state laws that have governed online gambling.
—Peyton Forte, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Ahmadian is one of many activists trying to circumvent the Islamic Republic’s attempts to halt communication.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvent
Verb
-
The opposition dominates for spells but struggles to bypass his strong defence.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Attackers can intentionally inject misleading or manipulative prompts to bypass security protocols or generate incorrect responses.—
Connie Etemadi,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Research your rebooking options and alternative itineraries in advance, and take advantage of airlines' self-service tools to avoid long lines at airport agent desks or long hold times on the phone.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 Jan. 2026
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The system avoids long-term buildup while still reliably confirming that a pill was taken.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video showed the mysterious concept, dubbed Corleo, roaming rocky terrain, leaping over icy crevasses, crossing snowy landscapes without losing its footing, and traversing a dark forest at night — all while carrying an adult rider on its back and being powered by a hydrogen power cell.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The massive International Sportsmen’s Expo returns to the Colorado Convention Center this weekend for all things hunting, fishing and traversing the land.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Davis faces three counts of first-degree assault and a single count each of second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility involving a death, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
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Ashton Hill, 17, was charged with discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities, evading arrest, riot participation, possession of marijuana under two ounces in a drug-free zone and possession of CS PG2 under one gram.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The investigation revealed the controller, distracted by a third plane circling the airport, delayed clearing the SkyWest flight for takeoff and failed to monitor the runway and airspace adequately.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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As soon as Robinson snapped the blade in, Khusnutdinov jumped onto the ice and joined the weave in the offensive zone, dropping the puck for the circling Pastrnak, who then executed the pretty give-and-go with McAvoy for the winner.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver who, while searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) body, gets swallowed and must find a way to escape.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Set in 1977, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the thriller details Armando and his son in their efforts to escape the country in the midst of political turmoil.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Within moments, a small crowd of counter-protesters encircled him.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The Moroccan-style domed white villas, which encircle the place like sugar cubes, satisfy the pilgrim’s sense of arriving at a glamorous landmark conjured from the glossy magazines of her youth.—
Alex Postman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And ignoring that fact is now no longer a laughing matter.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
All of these teens had in fact ignored their notices to appear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvent. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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