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
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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
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
Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
While on The Tonight Show, Swift appeared shy when discussing the song’s lyrics, ducking her head down as the house band the Roots began playing a sensual tune.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Jasper and Michelle looked for Josie, screaming her name, ducking behind cars to avoid gunfire.
—Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Everyone’s ducking and dodging these days, too.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Sep. 2025
The video shows agents ducking for cover in front of two white vans while quickly shuffling detainees inside the facility, where an ICE agent frantically guided the detainees down a hallway.
—Peter D'abrosca , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The surveillance video shows officers and detainees ducking for cover near two vans in the facility's sallyport.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Created in 2006 by the British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the haunting life-size figures, including a man typing at a desk (entitled The Lost Correspondent), fishermen, market traders, and a ring of children holding hands, can be viewed by snorkelers and divers ducking beneath the bay’s surface.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
The third shot was when everybody started ducking low and all these shots were like slow, until the fourth shot.
—Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
For a moment, Smith became overwhelmed, ducking to the side of the pillar while wiping tears away.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
While on The Tonight Show, Swift appeared shy when discussing the song’s lyrics, ducking her head down as the house band the Roots began playing a sensual tune.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Jasper and Michelle looked for Josie, screaming her name, ducking behind cars to avoid gunfire.
—Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Everyone’s ducking and dodging these days, too.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Sep. 2025
The video shows agents ducking for cover in front of two white vans while quickly shuffling detainees inside the facility, where an ICE agent frantically guided the detainees down a hallway.
—Peter D'abrosca , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The surveillance video shows officers and detainees ducking for cover near two vans in the facility's sallyport.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Created in 2006 by the British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the haunting life-size figures, including a man typing at a desk (entitled The Lost Correspondent), fishermen, market traders, and a ring of children holding hands, can be viewed by snorkelers and divers ducking beneath the bay’s surface.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
The third shot was when everybody started ducking low and all these shots were like slow, until the fourth shot.
—Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducking
Noun
-
Their 109-108 escape against the Philadelphia 76ers provided compelling theater, just not to all of the Celtics players.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Smoke detectors inside the devices sense smoke, which triggers the alarm warning, and its chime can add life-saving minutes to an escape.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
These risks have prompted the United States, China, and other spacefaring nations to develop advanced systems for tracking, avoiding, and potentially removing orbital debris.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Maximize calcium absorption by pairing it with vitamin D, healthy fats, and proper timing, while avoiding absorption blockers such as high-oxalate foods and excessive caffeine.—
Trang Tran,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Astronomers have unveiled the largest low-frequency radio color image of the Milky Way ever created, offering a sprawling cosmic panorama that reveals supernova remnants, stellar nurseries, pulsars and the intricate glow of gas and dust weaving through our galaxy’s heart.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
And while that's true, the show is also its own beast, deviating greatly from King's story by weaving in military intrigue, spycraft, and Native American mythology.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Bitcoin was last trading 5% lower on the day at $100,893, dipping at one point as low as $99,966.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Davis' ice dancing partner kicked off his season 18 strong, scoring straight 9s and never dipping below a rare 7.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
-
However, the court would not expand the receivership to take over any future LLCs the Verrichias might form ― at least not yet, although the court indicated a willingness to revisit the issue should the Verrichias dodging of their creditor continue.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Observers suggest that the test increases pressure on the United States and NATO to reconsider current policies and adapt to the introduction of underwater nuclear drones capable of evading ballistic missile shields.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
He was previously deported in 2006, 2014 and 2016, yet managed to re-enter at an unknown time and place, evading inspection, admission or parole by immigration authorities.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But this time, instead of being used as a dunking tool, the bread is baked right on top.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Dude was a slant master, dinking and dunking to his heart’s delight, forcing safeties to creep up and putting linebackers on their heels.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But Fan’s world came crashing down in the late 2010s amidst tax evasion allegations that culminated in fines and retroactive tax bills reportedly in the region of $100 million.—
Gavin J Blair,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Cunningham, who died in August 2025, had previously served more than eight years in federal prison for bribery and tax evasion.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ducking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducking. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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