1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
don't try to duck your commitment to spending Thanksgiving with your family by claiming you have to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in person
a member of the human race
her coworkers regard her as something of an odd duck
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of duck
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Republicans broadly supported the administration's military action in Iran, but most GOP incumbents in competitive races have noticeably ducked addressing rising gas prices while defending the war itself.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
Acknowledgment can also feel like the bare minimum, but the fight for it grows increasingly urgent when the American President is knocking down public memorials of slavery like tin ducks in a carnival shooting game.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duck
Verb
Of the five live roaches spotted, one was crawling on a handwash sink inside the kitchen and two ducked under a coffee machine nearby.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Republicans broadly supported the administration's military action in Iran, but most GOP incumbents in competitive races have noticeably ducked addressing rising gas prices while defending the war itself.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
The Mallards, whose colors are maroon and gold and whose logo features a male duck angrily baring its fictional teeth, are part of a 51-year old league stretching from Maine to New Mexico, Maryland to Alaska.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
Acknowledgment can also feel like the bare minimum, but the fight for it grows increasingly urgent when the American President is knocking down public memorials of slavery like tin ducks in a carnival shooting game.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
Verb
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The Yankees will look to avoid its first series sweep Sunday with Cam Schlittler on the mound against Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The troop carrier planes became bogged down in the soil and had to be destroyed by the US to avoid them falling into enemy hands, while new planes were flown in.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The mandolins weave intricate patterns together, in counterpoint or unison.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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This over 1,000-mile route weaves through breathtaking Great Lakes landscapes, tracing the edge of the glacier that covered these parts over 12,000 years ago.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Nuggets have dipped into the bottom 10 in points allowed per possession.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Give your furniture a quick wash down with a microfiber cloth dipped in the soapy water followed by a clean water rinse.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Jogging might feel easy to one person and exhausting to another.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Police said that at least one of the three shootings was a random attack on a homeless person sleeping in front of a Kroger store at Cherokee Plaza along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.—
Kat Greene,
AJC.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Thousands of trucking companies racking up thousands of safety violations – poor maintenance, excessive driving hours, drug and alcohol use – all while evading federal enforcement.—
Ashley Velie,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The scooter rider managed to evade police by making a U-turn, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The right-hander’s first pitch was an inside fastball that Adames had to dodge.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Tyler and Teezo Touchdown were singing about dodging monogamy at all costs, but RM teased out his own, deeper meaning.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Inspect your plants frequently and pick off caterpillars, dunking them in a bucket of soapy water.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
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Johansson scores his 200th On a tremendous play by Boldy to fend off Brandon Montour and spin for a backdoor pass, Johansson snapped an eight-game goal drought by slam-dunking his 200th goal.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Five of the eight people arrested in connection with last year's Esparto explosion, which killed seven men, were arraigned in Yolo County court on Monday.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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One man does it and the other becomes obsessed with figuring out how; then the dynamic reverses itself.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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