1
as in bypassed
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 avoided
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traversed
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 circumvented
The redistricting stems from an August decision in which Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the Utah congressional map adopted after the 2020 census because the Legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters.
—
ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Boise circumvented the law by making the Pride flag one of its official city flags.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Feb. 2026
Should the Clippers be found to have circumvented salary cap rules though Leonard’s no-show contract with Aspiration, the organization faces the potential loss of draft picks, fines and/or Leonard’s contract being voided.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 19 Feb. 2026
There’s a law firm still doing its due diligence in figuring out if the Clippers circumvented the cap.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Some major pornography sites have blocked British users rather than carry out age checks, but those blocks can be circumvented by using readily available virtual private networks, which the government is considering restricting for minors.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
According to family lore, Henry had somehow circumvented the state’s strict law against educating the enslaved and become literate.
—Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
The legislation targeting transgender Kansans was adopted after a series of remarkable procedural maneuvers that circumvented all public input on key provisions of the bill, including a ban on multi-occupancy unisex restrooms and other private spaces.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Bill Clinton circumvented political accountability by pardoning the financier Marc Rich, the ex-husband of an influential Democratic donor, on the last day of his presidency.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Boise circumvented the law by making the Pride flag one of its official city flags.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Feb. 2026
Should the Clippers be found to have circumvented salary cap rules though Leonard’s no-show contract with Aspiration, the organization faces the potential loss of draft picks, fines and/or Leonard’s contract being voided.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 19 Feb. 2026
There’s a law firm still doing its due diligence in figuring out if the Clippers circumvented the cap.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Some major pornography sites have blocked British users rather than carry out age checks, but those blocks can be circumvented by using readily available virtual private networks, which the government is considering restricting for minors.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
According to family lore, Henry had somehow circumvented the state’s strict law against educating the enslaved and become literate.
—Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
The legislation targeting transgender Kansans was adopted after a series of remarkable procedural maneuvers that circumvented all public input on key provisions of the bill, including a ban on multi-occupancy unisex restrooms and other private spaces.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Bill Clinton circumvented political accountability by pardoning the financier Marc Rich, the ex-husband of an influential Democratic donor, on the last day of his presidency.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvented
Verb
-
The October demolition of the East Wing bypassed typical historic preservation reviews, congressional approval and public comment, sparking intense opposition.—
Darlene Superville,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The overflow was stopped in late January, and sewage is now being bypassed around the broken pipe.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Police on Saturday had reported that initial information suggested two people at the rear of the group had avoided the slide.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Maybe if Robinson had 31-inch arms the Dolphins wouldn’t have romanticized him so much, and avoided selecting him with the 21st overall pick.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In that same period, the total distance traversed by ships in the Arctic increased 111%.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The design is meant to reorient us, to take us on a trail walked not by humans but traversed and carved by elephants, a creature still misunderstood, vilified and hunted for its cataclysmic-like ability to reshape land, and sometimes communities.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What emerged, Jackson told the court Thursday, was the portrait of a transient and calculating offender who operated across multiple states and evaded law enforcement for years.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Song evaded capture for two weeks.—
Kevin Krause,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The crafty, sublimely skilled Minnesota Wild defenseman took a drop pass from Matt Boldy and circled out high before cutting sharply into the high slot.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Playing her instrument with melodic flair, Gaffey—who was also dressed by Chavarria—circled through the room in a red version of Montero’s backless number.—
Avon Dorsey,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Though panned by critics and ignored by the public, the movie shows the struggles of a boy born on Mars to one of the first colonists.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The Cuban government has ignored urgent warnings from doctors and political analysts about the dire situation.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated February 19,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There’s real, sweat-inducing tension to scenes where Esther, alone at home with her children, is encircled and menaced by mobs of men preying on the easiest of targets.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The rock was encircled by a whopping 58 more pink diamonds, plus one half-moon diamond on either side.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Set against a ’90s true-crime backdrop, the fictional character is a female serial killer who targets repeat violent offenders who escaped accountability through power, prestige, or institutional failure.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Few Mexican restaurant chains in the United States — really, just Taco Bell — have escaped this destiny.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvented. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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