1
as in bypassing
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
employees who try to circumvent the company's dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in avoiding
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in circling
to travel completely around
most casual joggers will be able to circumvent the reservoir without too much of a strain
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Recent Examples of circumventing
The arrangement could be considered circumventing the NBA salary cap, a serious violation of league rules.
—
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Numerous states have accused prediction markets of circumventing state gambling laws, with mixed results in court.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
Critics contend prediction markets are circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
But in buying your data in bulk on the commercial market, the government is circumventing the Constitution, Supreme Court decisions and federal laws designed to protect your privacy from unwarranted government overreach.
—Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump also signed an executive order to pay other workers, circumventing Congress again.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Internet users have gotten used to circumventing the restrictions by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, even as the government has been actively blocking those, too.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Since the start of the war, cryptocurrency flowing into Iran has surged, in what experts say is a sign the government is trying to provide civilians with a financial lifeline while circumventing sanctions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026
Trump has remained open in his positioning toward Moscow, even declining on Sunday to blast it for circumventing his oil blockade on Cuba.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Numerous states have accused prediction markets of circumventing state gambling laws, with mixed results in court.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
Critics contend prediction markets are circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
But in buying your data in bulk on the commercial market, the government is circumventing the Constitution, Supreme Court decisions and federal laws designed to protect your privacy from unwarranted government overreach.
—Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump also signed an executive order to pay other workers, circumventing Congress again.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Internet users have gotten used to circumventing the restrictions by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, even as the government has been actively blocking those, too.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Since the start of the war, cryptocurrency flowing into Iran has surged, in what experts say is a sign the government is trying to provide civilians with a financial lifeline while circumventing sanctions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026
Trump has remained open in his positioning toward Moscow, even declining on Sunday to blast it for circumventing his oil blockade on Cuba.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumventing
Verb
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Under former President Jacob Zuma’s administration, a 9,600 MW plan tied to Russia’s Rosatom was struck down by the courts for bypassing parliamentary oversight.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In November 2024, Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion calling for the city to explore bypassing LAHSA and contracting directly with service providers, citing concerns about fragmentation and accountability.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Palencia pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday’s win and had warmed up twice in Monday night’s victory, so Counsell was avoiding the flamethrower on Wednesday.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Our legislators must make some tough decisions; avoiding the issues is not acceptable.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Per the logline, in Season 2 the Dars are drowning in dirty cash and Philly’s sketchiest crooks are circling.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Other carriers, smelling blood, had been circling for nearly a year if not longer, and within hours of the airline's collapse were scrambling to both fly ticketed Spirit customers and add to their schedules in the absence left by Spirit's yellow planes.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Committee Democrats asked Lutnick repeatedly about that visit, but came away from the interview frustrated with Lutnick and accused him of evading their questions.—
Stephen Groves,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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Abbushi was on post release community supervision and had an outstanding felony warrant for evading a police officer in another Bay Area county, the Sheriff's Office said.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Again, his narration for the eight-part series, which used captivating cinematography and told dramatic stories of animals traversing the natural world, won an Emmy.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
After recuperating from burns to his hands and face suffered in the crash, Morris went back to meet his wife in France, and eventually made their way in July back to Homewood, traversing the Atlantic this time by steamer.—
Paul Eisenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors accused the trust, which convinced a federal district judge to order a temporary pause in construction, of ignoring claims that the project is needed to bolster national security.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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But three days after withdrawing the lawsuit, Florida sued CMS for a third time, accusing the federal agency of ignoring the state’s public records request related to CMS’ approval of the KidCare expansion.—
Daniel Chang,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As companies compete for available land on earth and face criticism from neighbors who don’t want to live near data centers, orbiting tech stands to benefit from the absence of neighbors, endless solar power, and cold temperatures that GPUs need.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
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While the payload fairing that protected the lander before deployment reentered Earth’s atmosphere, the upper stage kept orbiting the Earth without ever reentering and burning up, Gray wrote.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Together, these mechanisms prevent the battery’s active materials from degrading or from escaping across the membrane, thereby ensuring long-term stability.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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Prosecutors have charged the 26-year-old Talley with murder, attempted murder and escaping from police, among other charges.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumventing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumventing. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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