as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
the disgraceful ducking of your duties to your family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in avoiding
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in dipping
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid
ducked the new camper in the lake as a joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ducking
PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
In true TikTok style, however, the song gets a comedic twist in the goofy ducking-out scenario.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
What's your take on this Jeep 'ducking' trend?
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2025
Student leaders, administrators and co-principal Lorena Moreno formed a welcome tunnel near the gate, cheering as students entered — some ducking past the fanfare and others stopping for hugs and greetings.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
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
But after ducking the tax — the first step toward eventually resetting their heavy repeater penalties — the Celtics surely won’t want to jump right back into it.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Conference-goers are often ducking in and out of the big ballrooms day and night and the lobby is nearly always abuzz with travelers coming and going.
—Lizbeth Scordo, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
The father inspected one and left the other untouched before quickly ducking back inside, locking the door and securing a deadbolt.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
Hundreds of attendees pushed through the crowds, weaving and ducking to find entrances to vendor exhibits.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
When the sun is just skimming across the horizon and ducking behind other peaks, all the heat that the sun baked into the snow and rocks during the day evaporates—fast.
—Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
McDermid’s prose is sprinkled throughout with dialect such as neep for rutabaga and dooking, or ducking, for apples.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
Automatic ducking doesn't add quacks to your soundtrack.
—PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
In true TikTok style, however, the song gets a comedic twist in the goofy ducking-out scenario.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
What's your take on this Jeep 'ducking' trend?
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2025
Student leaders, administrators and co-principal Lorena Moreno formed a welcome tunnel near the gate, cheering as students entered — some ducking past the fanfare and others stopping for hugs and greetings.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
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
But after ducking the tax — the first step toward eventually resetting their heavy repeater penalties — the Celtics surely won’t want to jump right back into it.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Conference-goers are often ducking in and out of the big ballrooms day and night and the lobby is nearly always abuzz with travelers coming and going.
—Lizbeth Scordo, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
The father inspected one and left the other untouched before quickly ducking back inside, locking the door and securing a deadbolt.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
Hundreds of attendees pushed through the crowds, weaving and ducking to find entrances to vendor exhibits.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
When the sun is just skimming across the horizon and ducking behind other peaks, all the heat that the sun baked into the snow and rocks during the day evaporates—fast.
—Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
McDermid’s prose is sprinkled throughout with dialect such as neep for rutabaga and dooking, or ducking, for apples.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducking
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
-
According to Ruby, seven of the 20 or so churches in G92, a Christian immigrant advocacy coalition in the city, are ready to offer physical sanctuary, though many are avoiding publicity for fear of harassment.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
To do so, Nguyen advises maintaining proper form, controlling the weight through the full range of motion and avoiding any movement that causes sudden pain.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a common arachnid called the orb-weaving spider native to Illinois and other Midwestern states that has the falcon beat.—
Sheryl DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
After securing her drink, the Euphoria star, sporting her signature bob and an emerald green cardigan, could be seen weaving through the crowd, eventually settling at a table with fashion editor Ella O'Keeffe and friends.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After rising higher earlier this year and briefly breaking the $100-per-ounce barrier, silver prices slid sharply before dipping and rising — and then dipping again.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
After dipping their toes in with a handful of EPs, Necropalace launches this new direction in earnest, leveling up to a bigger label with Century Media and presenting the band’s most extravagant, vampiric suite yet.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.—
Arkansas Online,
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
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
-
The Spurs’ Carter Bryant moves the ball between his legs in midair before dunking during the all-star dunk contest on Saturday.—
Ronaldo Bolaños,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Before some of the NBA’s best players spent Valentine’s Day Saturday in competitive 3-point shooting and dunking exhibitions, Commissioner Adam Silver gave his best lawyerly answers in a half-hour-long news conference focused largely on unethical hoops.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The capital Rome has the highest rate of garbage tax evasion, according to the authorities, followed by Naples.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Her assertion comes after Trump granted a pardon for her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022 and sentenced to 19 years in prison.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducking. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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