SIDESTEP Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

sidestep

verb

ˈsīd-ˌstep

Definition of sidestep

as in to circumvent

to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness the eager enlistee sidestepped the regulations by lying about his age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to weave

to move suddenly aside or to and fro the startled spectator sidestepped away from the oncoming ball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sidestep The Space Development Agency was established in 2019 to help speed up the deployment of US military space systems by sidestepping the Pentagon’s traditional sluggish bureaucracy. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026 The partnership enables the technology giant to sidestep ownership rules that have stalled the expansion of Starlink into one of Africa’s most valuable telecom markets. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 17 July 2026 As for Reflect Orbital, the company’s Eärendil-1 has for now sidestepped the concerns of its critics and could launch later this year. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 July 2026 For decades Washington has oscillated between trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and trying to sidestep it. — Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sidestep

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestep

Verb

More than a dozen states with sports betting bans on the books have sued Kalshi and Polymarket for allegedly circumventing state laws by running unlicensed, unregulated gambling platforms.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 20 July 2026
All some sellers had to do to circumvent automatic takedowns was miscategorize their products so that fewer checks were required before posting dangerous goods.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

Definition of circumvent

Verb

Under the supervision of a local artisan, guests sit cross-legged on a carpet beneath a large tree and weave their own small version of the bed.

— Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
The superintendent served as master of ceremonies, with performers weaving around him, cameos by celebrities, and slide projections and film sequences appearing on cue to supplement his applause and laugh lines.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of weave

Verb

Arsenal sustained multiple injuries in the goalkeeping department last year, with Manuela Zinsberger sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament issue, and want to avoid a similar situation.

— Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Jones hopes the study finds improvements to the current system Charlotte Water works under, and that the state avoids overinvesting into industries that take up a lot of water such as data centers.

— Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

To pretend otherwise, and to accuse everyone who points to these difficult trade-offs of bad faith, is to duck a confrontation with the deepest problems of politics and policy.

— Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
By contrast with physical products, policymakers now tend to duck difficult conversations about what to do with addictive services or experiences like gambling and video games.

— Jonathan Caulkins, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Definition of duck

Verb

Verify the source of every installer and stop when the instructions ask you to bypass a warning.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
With bots already making up over half of internet traffic, businesses failing to update will be bypassed, losing customers who increasingly send software to interact online.

— Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026