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
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
Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
But a recent global survey conducted by SAP subsidiary WalkMe found that workers are quietly ducking AI use.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Machete in hand, Gamaliel Camarena sliced the back of a man who managed to escape by ducking into a donut shop and barring the door.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
Ring surveillance video from the night of the shooting showed people ducking for cover on the 1500 block of South Etting Street as gunshots were fired.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
Investors ducking for cover in the rocky market are turning to low volatility funds.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
As the sun falls, Johnny Leach steps out of his Brooklyn apartment and onto the wet street before ducking into the subway station.
—Jenna Thompson
march 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Chicagoans are ducking for cover as delivery robots turn into heat-seeking missiles for innocent glass structures.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Jared McCain, a trade deadline steal from the tax-ducking 76ers, knocked down two 3s in the last four minutes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 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
Seattle takes coffee seriously, so ducking into Café Vita, one of the city’s indie coffee shops, is practically required.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
But a recent global survey conducted by SAP subsidiary WalkMe found that workers are quietly ducking AI use.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Machete in hand, Gamaliel Camarena sliced the back of a man who managed to escape by ducking into a donut shop and barring the door.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
Ring surveillance video from the night of the shooting showed people ducking for cover on the 1500 block of South Etting Street as gunshots were fired.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
Investors ducking for cover in the rocky market are turning to low volatility funds.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
As the sun falls, Johnny Leach steps out of his Brooklyn apartment and onto the wet street before ducking into the subway station.
—Jenna Thompson
march 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Chicagoans are ducking for cover as delivery robots turn into heat-seeking missiles for innocent glass structures.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Jared McCain, a trade deadline steal from the tax-ducking 76ers, knocked down two 3s in the last four minutes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducking
Noun
-
For years, Asheville, North Carolina, marketed itself as a mountain escape known for breweries, boutique hotels and Blue Ridge views.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This time, though, the prison is on a space station, making his attempt at escape even trickier than before.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Oil revenue is the linchpin of Russia’s economy, allowing Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.—
Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Perez said long-term solutions include avoiding terrible real estate deals like the city’s purchase nearly a decade ago of a downtown office building on Ash Street that was filled with asbestos.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Boldly returned for the second period with an exclamation point, setting up Minnesota’s tying goal by weaving around four Dallas challengers, and pulling Oettinger outside the crease, before passing to Eriksson Ek, who had an open net to hit for his third goal of the playoffs.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Oliva also made sure the final look never drifted too far from Taylor’s identity, weaving in subtle elements that kept it grounded in the present.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Susan Oludele, a braider in New York and Los Angeles, recommends boiling a pot of water, then dipping a towel into it.—
Danielle James,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The system will bring a cold front, with temperatures into the weekend dipping back down to the 50s.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When McKenzie asks him how much he’s contributed to the coffers of politicians, his dodging of the question is pure dissembling theater.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Furthermore, the Ukrainian army is short-handed, facing some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people, Fedorov, the defense minister, said in January.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to police, the evading vehicle was later located and the driver was taken into police custody.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Jarvis then spent eight years evading the FBI in Paris, London and Ibiza, after an industrial sized hash-smuggling operation went wrong.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An employee was observed improperly washing their hands by dunking their hands in soapy dish washing water and then drying them off.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Inspect your plants frequently and pick off caterpillars, dunking them in a bucket of soapy water.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The indictment charges Meade with one count of tax evasion and six counts of failure to file a tax return.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Over the last hundred-plus years, the properties have had a lot of lives, names, and myriad owners, including a pair of brothers who went to prison for tax evasion.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducking. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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