1
as in avoided
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ducked
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
When the gunmen entered the store, Bodnar ducked behind a computer.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Diller’s family cried and shook their heads in court at the verdict after Rivera ducked the murder charge.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Cabot immediately covered her face and turned away from the camera, while a stunned Byron ducked down and exited the frame.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
The famously-outgoing point guard ducked her head bashfully as Huskies stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong shook her shoulders in celebration while freshman Kelis Fisher tossed a handful of confetti into her face.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The woman covered roughly 120 yards of patchy parking lot and ducked into a Waffle House.
—Raheem Hosseini, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Feb. 2026
Knight ducked her head and smiled when the medal was hung around her neck, her face a mix of pride and exhaustion.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
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
When the gunmen entered the store, Bodnar ducked behind a computer.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Diller’s family cried and shook their heads in court at the verdict after Rivera ducked the murder charge.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Cabot immediately covered her face and turned away from the camera, while a stunned Byron ducked down and exited the frame.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
The famously-outgoing point guard ducked her head bashfully as Huskies stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong shook her shoulders in celebration while freshman Kelis Fisher tossed a handful of confetti into her face.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The woman covered roughly 120 yards of patchy parking lot and ducked into a Waffle House.
—Raheem Hosseini, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Feb. 2026
Knight ducked her head and smiled when the medal was hung around her neck, her face a mix of pride and exhaustion.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducked
Verb
-
The deficit Gloria had to close increased from $118 million to $146 million this spring because of some new spending that couldn’t be avoided, aides to the mayor said.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
While the broad outlines are fairly clear, dogma should be avoided when dealing with the various types of gladiators.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fentanyl seizures, along with several other illicit drugs, have also dipped.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But his production and availability also dipped after the All-Star break due to injury issues, as he was eventually moved to a bench role in the final weeks of the season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The helicopters successfully evaded Pakistan's layered air defenses, there was a crash immediately at UBL's compound, guys were scrambling to get inside, Khalid bin Laden got melted in the stairwell and then the SEALs got bin Laden on the third deck.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Redick said watching McIlroy this time around, compared to his first Masters victory last year after the championship had evaded him time and again, was a different experience.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, the Royals appear to have dodged an injury scare.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Sugano dodged major danger with two outs in the fifth.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The daughters of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and supermodel Jerry Hall, Lizzy and Georgia May, grew up immersed in glamour, creativity and constant travel, shuttling between backstage dressing rooms and fashion sets.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
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The true heart of the hotel is its spa, where three saunas with large panoramic windows, a hot tub, a cold plunge, and a swimming pool immersed me in the elements.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Animal rights activists questioned whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and also worried it might be killed during capture, something that happened to a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Another novel aspect is that Yarris escaped from custody in 1985, only to be quickly recaptured in Florida and sent back to death row in Pennsylvania.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the time he was gone, his daughter nearly drowned and his son swallowed an unknown amount of pool water while trying to get her out of the water, paramedics told police in the arrest report.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
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Police are investigating the death of a woman who drowned while competing in the Ironman Texas triathlon.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducked. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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