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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumventing
But that could be a mistake worth circumventing this January.
—
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The third danger concerns that lack of accountability involved in circumventing Congress.
—Kent Jones, The Conversation, 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
Starlink’s work in circumventing Tehran’s efforts to shut down communications is being watched closely around the world.
—David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Businesses with links to the IRGC became Iran’s sanction-circumventing apparatus, controlling imports, managing currency exchanges, and monopolizing access to restricted goods.
—Narges Bajoghli, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Of course, circumventing the legislature is not a Trumpian innovation.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
As a result, four Republicans decided to sign on to Democratic legislation that forces the House to vote on a three-year blanket extension on Wednesday morning, effectively circumventing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and teeing up a separate vote for next year.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 17 Dec. 2025
The letter also questioned whether ICE’s justification for circumventing the open bidding process was sound.
—Amber Gaudet
updated November 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 Nov. 2025
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The third danger concerns that lack of accountability involved in circumventing Congress.
—Kent Jones, The Conversation, 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
Starlink’s work in circumventing Tehran’s efforts to shut down communications is being watched closely around the world.
—David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Businesses with links to the IRGC became Iran’s sanction-circumventing apparatus, controlling imports, managing currency exchanges, and monopolizing access to restricted goods.
—Narges Bajoghli, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Of course, circumventing the legislature is not a Trumpian innovation.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
As a result, four Republicans decided to sign on to Democratic legislation that forces the House to vote on a three-year blanket extension on Wednesday morning, effectively circumventing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and teeing up a separate vote for next year.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 17 Dec. 2025
The letter also questioned whether ICE’s justification for circumventing the open bidding process was sound.
—Amber Gaudet
updated November 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumventing
Verb
-
The lawsuit filed in San Francisco says internal WhatsApp engineers — deemed whistleblowers — allege that the platform’s internal team can request access to user content to conduct their tasks, bypassing encryption.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Under county guidelines, 911 dispatchers and paramedics must route stroke patients to a stroke center, bypassing other hospitals without the designation.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Oil revenue is a key part of Russia's economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation and avoiding a currency collapse.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The woman was able to move out of the way just in time, avoiding serious injury, the outlet reported.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Prediction pieces and odds-style articles are circling a familiar cluster of returns, cross-promotion surprises, and NXT call-ups as the most realistic shock entrants.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Vartolomei is also circling an as-yet-untitled Romanian project, currently in final negotiations and eyeing a late 2026 shoot.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The implication is that some taxpayers are egregiously evading taxes.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The alleged victim was suspected of earlier evading police during a brief car chase in Richmond.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That means Gemini can reason about complex queries by traversing the graph's actual relationship nodes, not just keyword matching.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Once complete, the Etihad Rail network will run over 900 kilometers, connecting 11 cities across all seven emirates, traversing desert and mountains, and connecting coasts.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And ignoring that fact is now no longer a laughing matter.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Parents react in different ways, from telling their potty-mouthed offspring to stop, to explaining why this is a bad habit, to ignoring the behavior, or even enforcing consequences as a punishment.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The trio will have the orbiting lab to themselves until SpaceX's four-person Crew-12 mission arrives.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Half of the spacecraft orbiting Earth were impacted, causing disruptions to GPS, radio communication and satellite TV.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There will be little escaping the cold over the next week, while outside, temperatures most mornings dip to 0° or below.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The hot-button epic, which premiered in Toronto, follows a young man named Yusuf who gets caught up in political upheaval as tensions rise in Jerusalem and his village amid British crackdowns prompted by the arrival of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumventing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumventing. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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