GOT AROUND Synonyms: 184 Similar and Opposite Words

got around

verb

past tense of get around

as in defeated

to achieve a victory over somehow, an inexperienced lawyer managed to get around the media giant's stable of high-priced legal eagles

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in circumvented

to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness somehow she managed to get around the rules for paying the sales tax on a car bought out of state

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as in spread

to become known word of the discovery of gold quickly got around

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as in avoided

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery their lawyer has spent months trying to get around certain restrictions in the contract

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of got around When word got around, more famous people started popping in, Delany says. — Sam Kashner, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026 Although the city, bound by a freakishly heavy snowfall and bitter cold, was hard to traverse, Dylan, now with plenty of time on his hands, got around. — Sean Wilentz, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026 Notre Dame responded to Jefferson's big play with a 17-play, 75-yard drive lasting more than nine minutes by the time Carr got around the right side for a fourth-down TD keeper. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Alcott, Bekker, and their colleagues got around that limitation with a new technique that separates phosphorus according to the type of mineral it is bound to. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026 Two weeks after its short run ended, word got around, and Jaques received an out-of-the blue call from Sky’s then managing director of content (and later CEO of Sky Studios) Gary Davey, inviting him in for a chat. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 When word got around this week that the North Collins Street restaurant might be closing after 37 years, friends rallied around Airways and gave it a business boost to keep it around through Dallas Cowboys football season. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 The gender data gap did not close because medicine finally got around to it. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Capital One got around federal limits on swipe fees by buying Discover’s card network; other banks complained, then went out looking for their own loophole. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for got around

Verb

In 2026, Keiko Fujimori narrowly defeated a left-wing candidate to win the Peruvian presidency, while most recently, in Colombia, conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella bested left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda.

— David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Since Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, the Panthers have defeated their division rivals just once in the past seven meetings, including Carolina’s 43-13 blowout loss at home Sunday.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of defeated

Verb

The sides agreed to that trade in late June but didn't complete it until earlier this month, delaying the process because of the NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules on Leonard's behalf.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026
But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of the NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard's compensation.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of circumvented

Verb

Infrastructure on this scale needs a dedicated body that can keep pace with the technology and draw on the expertise already spread across existing agencies.

— Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, said authorities had found no evidence that the virus had spread into communities.

— Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spread

Verb

Alabama avoided its first three-game losing streak since 2007 by beating Texas A&M and returned to the top 10.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Nuggets fans have hoped Denver would have avoided an 0-2 start to the season after dropping the first game of the year to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoided

Verb

Miller—who is no stranger to extramarital tabloid scandals herself—has also mastered her getting-cheated-on performances.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
Bloomberg Philanthropies says the West Coast city has mastered the art of faster building applications.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of mastered

Verb

During this time, the streamer consistently ended up with best picture nominations, but top awards have notoriously evaded Netflix films.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026
But the Hurricanes passer evaded FSU defenders on a key play early in the second quarter, escaping two would-be tacklers and throwing downfield to a wide-open Daylyn Upshaw for a 44-yard gain.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

Images circulated daily on social media of children killed as collateral damage in strikes on Hamas targets.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Hollywood star Zendaya made a surprise appearance at Folsom High School’s football game Friday night, drawing attention from students and fans after photos and videos of her visit circulated on social media.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of circulated

Verb

Concerns mounted in July, when OpenAI disclosed that two of its models escaped containment, accessed the open internet and breached a company called Hugging Face.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
So far, these productions have largely escaped disruption, but the riots have rattled film crews and prompted warnings from Hollywood studios’ security departments.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026