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
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
Selling Garland was less about his abilities as an individual contributor and less about ducking his no-move clause, which kicks in on July 1, and more about Vancouver leaning into leaguewide interest in Garland and cleaning up its books overall with an eye toward long-term planning.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Post videos of catching them ducking in Statehouse hallways.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
On an episode of Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out podcast from 2024, Birbiglia listens to Fleming tell a story about his childhood habit of perpetually running away from his mother, sprinting off into a rainstorm rather than pragmatically ducking into her car.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
The union is calling on state lawmakers to toughen penalties for wage theft or ducking workers compensation and employee taxes.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 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
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
Selling Garland was less about his abilities as an individual contributor and less about ducking his no-move clause, which kicks in on July 1, and more about Vancouver leaning into leaguewide interest in Garland and cleaning up its books overall with an eye toward long-term planning.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Post videos of catching them ducking in Statehouse hallways.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
On an episode of Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out podcast from 2024, Birbiglia listens to Fleming tell a story about his childhood habit of perpetually running away from his mother, sprinting off into a rainstorm rather than pragmatically ducking into her car.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
The union is calling on state lawmakers to toughen penalties for wage theft or ducking workers compensation and employee taxes.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducking
Noun
-
April itself may feel too full for an extended escape, but don't overlook what's available close by.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
An excavator was used on Thursday to dig an escape channel after earlier unsuccessful efforts to coax the whale back toward deeper water, including using coast guard and fire department boats to create large waves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s chances of avoiding the NBA’s play-in tournament are now very slim.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The loss was Orlando’s eighth in the past 10 games as the team continues to trend the opposite direction of avoiding the Play-In Tournament.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In Foini village the Dio Dio Collective organizes chair-weaving workshops, part of efforts to document and revive the island's furniture-making heritage.—
Selina Denman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His sympathetic patter also gives Guirgis an opportunity to start weaving in the character’s politics.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The figures, which are based on more than 500,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data, indicate that global tonnages were relatively stable compared with the previous week, with capacity dipping 1 percent.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
More Americans are also dipping into retirement savings to prop up their spending, the report showed.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Starter Seth Lugo pitched four strong innings, including artful dodging of traffic in the second, and the bullpen stranded seven Colombia base runners the rest of the way.—
Maria Torres,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
According to Basketball Reference’s playoff probabilities report, the Heat entered Wednesday with just a 9 percent chance of evading the play-in tourney.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Eric Lampkin-Scarborough, 19, was arrested for insufficient bonds related to a felony weapon charge and a misdemeanor evading arrest charge.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the side, there’s a cup of mushroom stock fortified with soy sauce, molasses, rosemary and a touch of cayenne pepper for dunking.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
San Antonio led by as many as 28 during a dominant first-half performance that featured a highlight-worthy play with Castle dunking off a behind-the-back pass from Wembanyama.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
He was convicted of tax evasion in January 2006.—
Jack Perry,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Years of fare evasion and the fare forgiveness program encouraged nonpayment, leaving lasting financial issues.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducking. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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