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
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
The video, also obtained by NBC News, WBRC and CNN, shows children dressed in their school uniforms ducking and running out of the building.
—Bethany Brown, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See below in another example, drawing defenders in with the initial short pass, before ducking onto his opposite foot and sliding the ball through for Nico Gonzalez to attack.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 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
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
The video, also obtained by NBC News, WBRC and CNN, shows children dressed in their school uniforms ducking and running out of the building.
—Bethany Brown, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See below in another example, drawing defenders in with the initial short pass, before ducking onto his opposite foot and sliding the ball through for Nico Gonzalez to attack.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducking
Noun
-
Heartbreaking to hear her talk about needing an escape from her abusive husband.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Among the Trees and Hilltops After Nobu’s serene luxury, Acre Resort was a lush escape.—
Lisa Greissinger,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The cubs were taught essential survival skills—including hunting and avoiding humans—to get ready to be reintroduced to the wild.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The change also aligned with the WHO’s guidelines for naming diseases, which emphasize avoiding names that are offensive to cultural groups, or that negatively impact trade, tourism, or animal welfare.—
Dr. Nikki Romanik,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By the time the five members of Tomorrow X Together (TXT for short) appear, not from the stage but through the pit doors, weaving past the barricades and into the sea of fans, the noise has swelled to seismic levels.—
Crystal Bell,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Created by Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe, The Chi premiered in 2018 and quickly became a defining work in contemporary television, weaving together the lives of Chicago residents in a unique way.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Illini were early adopters dipping in the international pool to go buy players rather than going heavy in the transfer portal.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The series is well-regarded by critics, who correctly hail it as a good starting point for little ones just now dipping their toes into Star Wars.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
This year’s skillshare in Philadelphia is slated to offer a series of hourlong workshops, including a lesson on evading law enforcement and eluding capture.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Jackson was apprehended a short time later and arrested for evading arrest or detention, police said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The luxury hotel brand is immersing its high-paying clients in local events through bookable packages taking place at the hotel.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Fantastic Futurism – The filmmakers discuss the process of immersing the cast and crew in the film’s retro-futuristic aesthetic.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Eventually charged with two murders, Pulawa got 15 years for tax evasion in 1973, and he was released in 1984.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
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The other experiments used a tax evasion game that incentivized participants to misreport their earnings to get a bigger payout.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ducking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducking. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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