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
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 circumvented
About 20 African countries actively uphold term limits, the think tank says, while others have abolished or circumvented them, or are under military regimes that have suspended constitutional rule, allowing long-serving leaders to remain in office.
—
Farai Mutsaka,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
While critics argue these measures can be easily circumvented with VPNs, Snapchat’s aggressive lockdown proves that platforms are finally feeling compelled to act in defense of a wider social media ban.
—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Anthropic had brushed off the White House’s concerns that guardrails on its Fable 5 model could be circumvented, adding to the string of fights the AI lab has gotten into with the White House.
—
Liz Rappaport,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
Torre’s team, and later The Athletic, dug into the connections between Aspiration and Clippers’ billionaire owner Steve Ballmer, who had invested $60 million in the company, and the NBA announced an investigation to determine whether Ballmer and the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules.
—
Shakeia Taylor,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
—
ABC News,
4 May 2026
But the latest administrative checks, amid intensifying scrutiny, come after Italian media revealed internal emails that were framed as evidence that the Biennale organizers had circumvented sanctions against Russia to facilitate Russia’s participation.
—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Search and rescue team members circumvented the gate by riding a dirt bike and were able to locate the injured man, officials said.
—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Farai Mutsaka,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
While critics argue these measures can be easily circumvented with VPNs, Snapchat’s aggressive lockdown proves that platforms are finally feeling compelled to act in defense of a wider social media ban.
—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Anthropic had brushed off the White House’s concerns that guardrails on its Fable 5 model could be circumvented, adding to the string of fights the AI lab has gotten into with the White House.
—
Liz Rappaport,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
Torre’s team, and later The Athletic, dug into the connections between Aspiration and Clippers’ billionaire owner Steve Ballmer, who had invested $60 million in the company, and the NBA announced an investigation to determine whether Ballmer and the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules.
—
Shakeia Taylor,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
—
ABC News,
4 May 2026
But the latest administrative checks, amid intensifying scrutiny, come after Italian media revealed internal emails that were framed as evidence that the Biennale organizers had circumvented sanctions against Russia to facilitate Russia’s participation.
—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Search and rescue team members circumvented the gate by riding a dirt bike and were able to locate the injured man, officials said.
—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvented
Verb
-
Though long bypassed by interstates, the historic highway, home of scenic vistas and roadside curiosities, continues to attract travelers searching for an America of yesterday.
-
While 9 in 10 parents support the move, experts warn of potential enforcement challenges, citing Australia's mixed results where many children bypassed similar bans or moved to less regulated sites.
Verb
-
Malepeai, her co-defendant Freddie Lee Davis III, and two others who avoided federal charges were identified by police as members of a robbery crew that committed violent purse snatchings around the Bay Area.
-
After not being present for voluntary activities throughout the offseason, Pickens avoided a contract holdout situation and reported to The Star for the first time since the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Verb
-
Will Smith traversed the globe for 100 days and did a whole bunch of adventure-quest stuff on the Disney Plus/National Geographic series Pole to Pole With Will Smith.
-
Volunteers and paid canvassers have traversed neighborhoods on foot to talk to local businesses.
Verb
-
California Highway Patrol arrested a Sacramento man who police say evaded arrest and stole a patrol car, the Sacramento Police Department announced Friday afternoon.
-
For years, Heuermann evaded law enforcement despite the discovery of four of the victims' remains in 2010.
Verb
-
The Delta pilots circled the airport, in a procedure called a go-around, before landing safely on their second attempt.
-
Caglianone circled the bases for the sixth time in his last five games.
Verb
-
After years of exam leaks, persistently high youth unemployment, and opportunities slipping further out of reach, their simmering frustration is sparking a demand for accountability that many say can no longer be ignored.
-
Several states and agencies also charge for rescues, particularly when visitors have ignored warning signs.
Verb
-
Blackened with volcanic rock and encircled by towering waves, the tumultuous scenery makes a vivid psychic landscape for So Help Me God, a rambling spell of ’70s-era soul and exuberant orchestral folk-pop that sweeps through the fog of heartbreak and the clarity of self-discovery.
-
That probe dates to early 2025 and is just one of several investigations that have encircled Newsom, his office and his family, according to two sources cited by MS NOW.
Verb
-
Emilio Buitrago, who was born in Venezuela but moved to Philadelphia in the 1990s, says his cousin narrowly escaped her apartment building during the earthquakes.
-
And this has not escaped Justice Alito's notice.
Cite this Entry
“Circumvented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvented. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
