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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 ducked
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
Patrons ducked under available coverage to keep their tacos and arepas dry.
—Miami Herald, 15 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
And the Cougars haven’t ducked anyone.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
During the demonstration, the Dexory bot ducked under a low pipe near the ceiling and stopped before rolling around a person standing in its path.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
During the demonstration, the Dexory bot ducked under a low pipe near the ceiling and stopped before rolling around a person standing in its path.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Patrons ducked under available coverage to keep their tacos and arepas dry.
—Miami Herald, 15 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
And the Cougars haven’t ducked anyone.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
During the demonstration, the Dexory bot ducked under a low pipe near the ceiling and stopped before rolling around a person standing in its path.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
During the demonstration, the Dexory bot ducked under a low pipe near the ceiling and stopped before rolling around a person standing in its path.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducked
Verb
-
Petty crime, like pickpocketing and phone theft, is more common in Paris and can be easily avoided.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Crown and root rots are easily avoided through proper plant siting to ensure adequate soil drainage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prices have dipped, inventory has grown, snowpack is at a record low, and economic concerns persist.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Before the Iran conflict erupted in late February, the euro zone's inflation rate had dipped below the central bank's 2% target.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Twin direct hits in southern Israel over the weekend injured at least 180 people, while an additional series of direct strikes — missiles that evaded interceptors — in central Tel Aviv earlier this week injured fewer than 10, according to health officials.—
Rebecca Shabad,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Investigators believe Nunez evaded law enforcement by obtaining false identification documents and fleeing the country.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Less than two minutes later, the second-year Celtic received a pass from Payton Pritchard, dodged around a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closeout and nailed a 3-pointer that stretched his team’s lead to double digits.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Two Indiana coal plants have once again dodged retirement.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Especially for someone whose entire adult life has been immersed in the adrenaline-infusion of coaching — from its exhilarating highs and anguishing lows to simply always being in the middle of so much.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Netanyahu, a child psychologist who works three times a week at the Jerusalem municipality, has immersed herself in the issue.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kourani had escaped a strike on a hotel in a nearby area earlier this month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
While awaiting prosecution for the Mahany Park shooting, Abril escaped from Placer County sheriff’s custody while receiving medical treatment at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nevertheless, higher gasoline prices have drowned out any hope of a rate cut among the chattering classes.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Those who yelled were drowned out by the chanting and singing.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducked. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
