1
as in bypasses
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 avoids
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traverses
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 circumvents
Privacy advocates argue the practice circumvents the Fourth Amendment and is contrary to a 2015 law that bars federal agencies from collecting bulk data on Americans.
—
Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
The suit said the scheme circumvents FDA regulations that generally prohibit importation of unapproved medications from overseas.
—Melissa Lee,paige Tortorelli,scott Zamost, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Many of the mistakes or inconsistencies that happen in garment manufacturing stem from human error, which CreateMe circumvents.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
In Fraenkel’s account, an authoritarian system can preserve a normative state—courts, procedures, legality—while simultaneously constructing a prerogative state that overrides or circumvents those constraints in the name of necessity, emergency, or national survival.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Public universities oppose bill Both the UC and Cal State say the latest bill circumvents the 2021 law that allows community colleges to develop bachelor’s programs annually as long as the degrees do not duplicate existing programs at the two university systems.
—Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
California’s redistricting measure temporarily circumvents the independent system previously used to draw congressional maps in an effort to combat Texas Republicans’ own redistricting move that could net the GOP up to five additional House seats in the next midterms.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
The suit said the scheme circumvents FDA regulations that generally prohibit importation of unapproved medications from overseas.
—Melissa Lee,paige Tortorelli,scott Zamost, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Many of the mistakes or inconsistencies that happen in garment manufacturing stem from human error, which CreateMe circumvents.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
In Fraenkel’s account, an authoritarian system can preserve a normative state—courts, procedures, legality—while simultaneously constructing a prerogative state that overrides or circumvents those constraints in the name of necessity, emergency, or national survival.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Public universities oppose bill Both the UC and Cal State say the latest bill circumvents the 2021 law that allows community colleges to develop bachelor’s programs annually as long as the degrees do not duplicate existing programs at the two university systems.
—Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
California’s redistricting measure temporarily circumvents the independent system previously used to draw congressional maps in an effort to combat Texas Republicans’ own redistricting move that could net the GOP up to five additional House seats in the next midterms.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvents
Verb
-
Saudi Aramco manages a pipeline network that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz to deliver oil to the Red Sea port city of Yanbu.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Among the Gulf Arab states targeted by Iran, Saudi Arabia is the only one with a coastline on the Red Sea, giving it an export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Human interest Sending robots to space avoids having to deal with risks to human health.—
Scott Solomon,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Keeping your conversion within a range that avoids IRMAA thresholds protects your Medicare costs alongside your tax bill.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While oil that traverses the strait is usually bound for Asia and other places rather than North America, the chaos still affects the United States.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Running daily between the two cities, the train traverses 381 miles in about 11 hours.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But even if Booker’s appearance evades the FCC’s scrutiny, the commission is closely watching TV talk programs, with The View in particular a subject of interest.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
-
But how does one set out to write a biography about the creation of an author who not only can’t be reached, but actively evades the spotlight?—
Costa Beavin Pappas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Editing compounds that issue, and not even a familiar and fun soundtrack can distract from a narrative that endlessly circles the same jokes and conflicts without properly deepening them.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Anthony Arceneaux, who owns the spot with his wife, Jennifer, circles the room in a white cowboy hat, shaking hands like a Presidential candidate.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Discord, confident as ever, ignores this warning.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Repeatedly promoting the scientific but impractical viewpoint of neurologists and sleep experts completely ignores how humans live in the real world.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, a bright ring of sunlight encircles the moon's silhouette, often called a 'ring of fire'.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The trail encircles a large, ADA-accessible playground and also provides views of the South Bend skyline.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Midwest Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Soccer practices, airport runs, Costco expeditions and weekend escapes into Colorado’s foothills all demand a vehicle that blends comfort, capability and technology.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Airports are supposed to be places of motion, a steady current of departures and arrivals, of reunions and escapes.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvents. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
