as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
the governor's repeated dodging of tough questions at the press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in circumventing
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 avoiding
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
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Recent Examples of dodging
Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
All combat is close combat, made harder by the fact that running and dodging depletes Shimizu’s stamina quite quickly, leaving her too exhausted to run through maze-like streets and alleyways, or fight off whatever horrible thing is waiting around the next corner.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
However, the court would not expand the receivership to take over any future LLCs the Verrichias might form ― at least not yet, although the court indicated a willingness to revisit the issue should the Verrichias dodging of their creditor continue.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Robertson, a designer by trade, launched the site last year after dodging a robot on a summer walk near Belden Avenue and Halsted Street in Lincoln Park with his wife and their two small children.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Families are paying more for housing, energy, and taxes while Beacon Hill keeps growing government and dodging accountability.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Google is famous for dodging questions by reciting platitudes on its calls.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
He's spent the last three seasons flirting and dodging anything serious, but season 4 finally gives him his own love story.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
The videos shared on social media show the suspect dodging a police cruiser attempting to run him down before opening fire at the officer and charging him.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Back then, America feared an armada of Soviet bombers laden with A-bombs barreling over the horizon, dodging our few anti-aircraft batteries, and dropping their deadly payloads on undefended American cities.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Pulse oximetry only returned in August 2025, Apple dodging the patent issue by not displaying results on the watch screen itself.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
All combat is close combat, made harder by the fact that running and dodging depletes Shimizu’s stamina quite quickly, leaving her too exhausted to run through maze-like streets and alleyways, or fight off whatever horrible thing is waiting around the next corner.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
However, the court would not expand the receivership to take over any future LLCs the Verrichias might form ― at least not yet, although the court indicated a willingness to revisit the issue should the Verrichias dodging of their creditor continue.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
After dodging Guantánamo, Stewart was instructed to report to an ICE detention center in Texas.
—Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Robertson, a designer by trade, launched the site last year after dodging a robot on a summer walk near Belden Avenue and Halsted Street in Lincoln Park with his wife and their two small children.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Families are paying more for housing, energy, and taxes while Beacon Hill keeps growing government and dodging accountability.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Google is famous for dodging questions by reciting platitudes on its calls.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
He's spent the last three seasons flirting and dodging anything serious, but season 4 finally gives him his own love story.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
The videos shared on social media show the suspect dodging a police cruiser attempting to run him down before opening fire at the officer and charging him.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Back then, America feared an armada of Soviet bombers laden with A-bombs barreling over the horizon, dodging our few anti-aircraft batteries, and dropping their deadly payloads on undefended American cities.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Pulse oximetry only returned in August 2025, Apple dodging the patent issue by not displaying results on the watch screen itself.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodging
Noun
-
But Jack, the most sensible and straitlaced of the lot, may finally be making his escape, thanks to the normalizing influence of his merely quite privileged girlfriend Martha (Elle Fanning).—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Once so consumed by her races during the Olympics, Bowe said getting to watch and cheer for Knight has been a welcome escape from her own preparation and stress.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Across the world’s six biomes, Roar league players are bona fide icons, selling out arenas and ducking the paparazzi.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Photo provided Additional video shows witness Kenyatta Squires ducking into a corner deli moments before the van barrels onto the sidewalk toward two pedestrians standing outside a business.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Republican state lawmakers opposed the measure, saying the Legislature was circumventing its process and abandoning transparency and accountability in order to funnel tax dollars to a political ally.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Leonard has one season left on his deal after this one, with uncertainty surrounding him in the league’s investigation into the Aspiration situation, in which Leonard and the Clippers are accused of circumventing the NBA’s salary-cap rules.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The battery is reported to retain more than 90 percent of its driving range even at –40 degrees Celsius, avoiding the sharp winter degradation commonly associated with both LFP and nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Sokolowski also recommends avoiding misting your refrigerator with water directly—always apply it to a microfiber cloth first.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to fiscal challenges, the district has been grappling with the indictment of former superintendent Devon Horton, who is facing federal charges, along with three of his associates, for wire fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion.—
Alexandra Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In 2022, Carew was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion in Norway.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company is in the process of translating its catalog, using AI to analyze the colors, layers and weaving patterns of previous design files.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Feb. 2026
-
And now, the Princess of Wales has made a trip to Melin Tregwynt, a historic woollen mill on the Pembrokeshire coast, known mostly for weaving traditional Welsh double-cloth designs.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Folktales are filled with people fighting to survive in forests, steppes, and deserts, and evading and outwitting the wild beasts that dwell within them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Bottega Veneta’s perfume holder makes sure your travel-sized scent never ever rolls around at the bottom of your bag, evading your grip hand again.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But a previous owner of the injection well noted in a report to the state that the well was missing a layer of cement that would help prevent the wastewater from escaping at shallow depths, where most drinking water sources exist, Plummer wrote in an email to oil division colleagues.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
-
So much for escaping the bubble.—
The Editors,
Outside,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dodging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodging. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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