as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
just another dodge to get out of working in the yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in circumvents
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
always trying to dodge the landlord's rule prohibiting pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in evades
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
dodged the horde of paparazzi by leaving through the service entrance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dodges
Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
There's also knee slides, double jumps, and quick-dodges in all directions.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
The former is what the first game had, and is more meant for short-range dashes and dodges.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s a lot of common dodges and evasions.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Each character has a base suite of moves including light and heavy attacks, dodges or blocks (depending on the hero), and special moves that expend a stamina meter.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 15 June 2026
If someone dodges details, slow down and repeat the key request.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … VETTING FAILURE — Far-left firebrand dodges questions over hiring bodyguard with criminal history.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Trump, when pressed, dodges the issue of war aims by pointing to the excellence of the military.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
In a cult classic 1976 film, The Bill Koch Experience, the star slaloms at perilous speed through low brush, dodges cows in a pasture, and also leaps off a boulder, only to tumble.
—Bill Donahue, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026
If someone dodges your requests, try asking a clarifying question to avoid hidden assumptions.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Flipping her hair and writhing around in pain and ecstasy, the singer dodges plates and cutlery that fly at her face while battling mysterious, paranormal forces that throw her around.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
On the transgender issue, Earle-Sears has attacked Spanberger over the inclusion of transgender-identifying biological males in women’s sports, restrooms, and locker rooms as the Democratic candidate dodges the subject and says the issue should be handled locally.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Simple dodges send Lara effortlessly backflipping through the air, and her iconic swan dive returns.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
There's also knee slides, double jumps, and quick-dodges in all directions.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
The former is what the first game had, and is more meant for short-range dashes and dodges.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s a lot of common dodges and evasions.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Each character has a base suite of moves including light and heavy attacks, dodges or blocks (depending on the hero), and special moves that expend a stamina meter.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
So in Love, the 23-year-old singer’s latest, dodges the third-album conundrum of whether to embrace sweeping change.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 15 June 2026
If someone dodges details, slow down and repeat the key request.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … VETTING FAILURE — Far-left firebrand dodges questions over hiring bodyguard with criminal history.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Trump, when pressed, dodges the issue of war aims by pointing to the excellence of the military.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
In a cult classic 1976 film, The Bill Koch Experience, the star slaloms at perilous speed through low brush, dodges cows in a pasture, and also leaps off a boulder, only to tumble.
—Bill Donahue, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026
If someone dodges your requests, try asking a clarifying question to avoid hidden assumptions.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Flipping her hair and writhing around in pain and ecstasy, the singer dodges plates and cutlery that fly at her face while battling mysterious, paranormal forces that throw her around.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
On the transgender issue, Earle-Sears has attacked Spanberger over the inclusion of transgender-identifying biological males in women’s sports, restrooms, and locker rooms as the Democratic candidate dodges the subject and says the issue should be handled locally.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodges
Noun
-
They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Kids will quickly see through her ruses.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The story weaves together themes of migration, memory and intergenerational belonging, and was produced on a modest budget with no major stars or spectacle to drive ticket sales.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
-
First released in May 2026 as a single ahead of her next album Whiskey & Hemingway, the song effortlessly weaves traditional American country elements with the singer's El Salvadoran heritage.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Sea Change reads as an intimate character study, one that circumvents familiar narratives of Asian intergenerational trauma in favor of a more complicated reckoning.—
Tessa Yang,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
-
RevMed’s daraxonrasib cleverly circumvents this problem by acting as a molecular stickum.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
And though bound together as one 10-county region, the Hudson Valley actively evades a uniform identity.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
-
In March, the French navy seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean that Macron said belonged to Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises several hundred tankers through which Russia evades sanctions.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
According to the police report, a woman also reportedly claimed to be a victim of one of Chen's check-cashing schemes, alleging that she was scammed out of $40,000 after Chen wrote her bad checks from a man's account, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
Madigan, meanwhile, was convicted in a separate trial of an array of schemes that included the ComEd bribery payments.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
In the video, the subject ducks his head in the opposite direction of the doorbell camera.—
Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita , Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The sun ducks down and sets Conejo Mountain against warm pinks and purples, transforming the ridgeline into an epic silhouette.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Built in the 1830s, the 25-foot-wide home was completely reimagined by Yellowtrees Studio, resulting in a thoughtful blend of historic character and contemporary design that avoids both museum-like preservation and the formulaic feel of a luxury flip.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
-
While the budget is technically balanced, maintains funding for most city services, and avoids layoffs among an already lean staff, the fiscal outlook remains fragile as local revenues slow due to cooling economic conditions and rising inflation.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Budget retreats run roughly $1,000 to $2,000 for a week-long stay, mid-range options land between $3,000 and $6,000, and luxury escapes start around $7,000 and climb from there.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
-
Until that relationship changes, no amount of vacation time, wellness apps or weekend escapes will create lasting relief.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dodges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodges. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
