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
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
Instead of investigating the botched contract, Driscoll and Healey were ducking and defending the questionable bidding process.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 22 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
Witnesses said as soon as shots rang out, the group began running and bystanders on the block began taking cover, some ducking behind school buses.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Midday was for ducking into a family-run lodge for miso ramen or chicken katsu, the kind of spot where the windows fog up and the air smells of rich broth.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025
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
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
Instead of investigating the botched contract, Driscoll and Healey were ducking and defending the questionable bidding process.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 22 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
Witnesses said as soon as shots rang out, the group began running and bystanders on the block began taking cover, some ducking behind school buses.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Midday was for ducking into a family-run lodge for miso ramen or chicken katsu, the kind of spot where the windows fog up and the air smells of rich broth.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducking
Noun
-
At the time of the escape, the kangaroo was carrying her baby, known as a joey.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Just two hours from Manhattan—and easily accessible via Amtrak—Hudson makes an easy weekend escape for travelers short on time.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Fabian Leon, who was later charged with simple battery and avoiding security measures, the outlet said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Lessons from 1,000 Deals — Price Pritchett A practitioner’s guide to avoiding integration missteps, based on patterns observed across hundreds of real-world transactions.—
Jennifer J. Fondrevay,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the clip, Ollie Pulleyblank is seen weaving between stationary cars, offering food and drinks to drivers who had been stuck since early morning.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 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
Verb
-
Mornings will be well below zero, with wind chills dipping into the 20s below zero at times.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Increasing clouds are expected Tuesday, with a high near 23 degrees and wind chill values dipping below zero at times as a light southwest wind develops.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Jan. 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
-
Shares of the Turkish state lender Halk Bankasi AS tumbled on Wednesday following the adjournment of a court status conference in the US related to charges of evading sanctions on Iran.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In July 2025, Mouton was reportedly arrested and charged with felon in possession of a weapon, evading arrest and drug possession.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In homage to the Dead, Speirs created tie-dye shirts with an image of a dunking skeleton and the colors of the Lithuanian flag, a version of which still sells.—
Alex Valdes,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Many basketball and football athletes are now selling their passing, tackling and dunking skills each year to the highest bidder.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some people have had reported personal or financial connections to Trump, like Paul Walczak convicted of tax evasion, whose mother is a longtime Republican donor, and Julio Herrera Velutini, whose daughter donated millions to a MAGA PAC, CBS News first reported.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The impacts of reshoring, and the creation of additional tariff evasion facilities, is more likely to show up in the 2026-2027 period.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducking. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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