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duck 1 of 2

verb

Definition of ducknext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to weave
to move suddenly aside or to and fro duck behind a pillar before they see us

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3
as in to dip
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid ducked the new camper in the lake as a joke

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duck

2 of 2

noun

ˈdək How to pronounce duck (audio)
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

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 duck
Verb
Paxton has so far failed to hold large campaign events and is ducking debates. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Store employees are seen ducking for cover as more shots are fired. — Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
In a small town, several dead people are brought back to life through a strange ritual involving burning duck manure. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 Each watertight bubble contains a colorful object, such as a duck or whale, to distract your little one while they’re being cleaned. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
  1. avoid
  2. weave
  3. dip
  4. person
  5. evade
  6. dodge
  7. dunk
  8. man
Verb
  • The company estimates that converting the existing US fleet could avoid about 20 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually while providing gigawatts of additional generating capacity.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In Indonesia, farmers rely on rain to dissolve fertilizers into the soil to avoid burning the plants, explained Eddy Martono, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.
    — EDNA TARIGAN, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • Elaine unravels that mystery, weaving together the way insurance companies’ coverage decisions have shaped how these medicines are used.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Intricate leather weaves reinterpreted the brand’s classic bags and shoes, while denim, crystal embroidery and ostrich-effect materials added pizzazz to the lineup.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of weave
Verb
  • About seven months ago, the average 30-year mortgage rate briefly dipped below 6% for the first time in years, prompting hopes that cheaper borrowing would finally unfreeze the housing market.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Apply the vinegar by spraying it directly onto the surface or by dipping a microfiber cloth into the solution, wringing it out, and wiping the appliance.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of dip
Noun
  • Normally in a Housewives fight like this, the person getting caught would be defensive or fire back twice as hard, but Vicki simply doesn’t care.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But, no offense, the most popular person in the stadium on Saturday afternoon will be the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning, who will be in attendance to watch his nephew Arch Manning square off against his beloved Tennessee Vols.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of person
Verb
  • But when the canal turns out to be the site of illicit Russian mafia activities, Irwin becomes a witness and must evade the mob and its threats to his family while relying on his partner and former cop brother to help get him out of trouble.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • On the 16-yard pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice, Mahomes evaded a pass rusher, waited and stepped up in the pocket before completing a throw.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of evade
Verb
  • At the time that theatergoers were sitting on the edges of their seats and watching Bullock dodge debris, there were only about 1,000 active satellites in orbit.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That is a reason to be careful with wording, not a reason to dodge honest questions.
    — Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of dodge
Verb
  • Full marks to Seattle’s defense but Marcus Mariota is a capable backup quarterback who can dink and dunk with the best of them, keeping the Commanders in the game.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Leslie was determined to be the first player in the WNBA to dunk, which helped redefine what was possible in women’s basketball.
    — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of dunk
Noun
  • Thin partitions marked an early attempt to slice the space into smaller rooms, but the original brick walls remained bare, shivering with cobwebs, where someone had pasted a picture of a man, holy hands bracketing a redbrick heart.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • People arrested at these checkpoints have virtually no legal recourse and many young men have subsequently been forced into the military.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of man

Phrases Containing duck

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duchy
duck
ducked
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Cite this Entry

“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on duck

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about duck

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