1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sidestep
That distinction matters because, positioned as financial instruments, these companies can sidestep some of the scrutiny applied to gambling businesses.
—
Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2026
In the interview, Zhao also sidestepped a question about the how much screen time Gellar had in the pilot.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
When presidents sidestep formal addresses and Congress declines to insist upon them, the deliberative architecture of the republic weakens.
—Kenneth Zagacki, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
His clever autofictional dodge sidesteps the expectation that trans people must explain their life to outsiders.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2026
In the interview, Zhao also sidestepped a question about the how much screen time Gellar had in the pilot.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
When presidents sidestep formal addresses and Congress declines to insist upon them, the deliberative architecture of the republic weakens.
—Kenneth Zagacki, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
His clever autofictional dodge sidesteps the expectation that trans people must explain their life to outsiders.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestep
Verb
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The lawsuit says that HHS' declaration seeks to coerce providers to stop providing gender-affirming care and circumvent legal requirements for policy changes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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Thousands of websites and platforms are blocked, as are multiple virtual private networks that allow users to circumvent censorship.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yet Stunning Landscape As part of their investigation, the journalists weave through allegations of institutional corruption, secret police operations, drug trafficking, and an overnight visit to the Devil’s Punchbowl.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
21 Mar. 2026
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Timberlake was initially arrested in June 2024 after police stopped him for weaving out of his lane and failing to obey a stop sign.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Unlike CO₂-based models, these atmospheres avoid collapse.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
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Police urged the public to avoid the area and asked anyone who sees someone matching the description to call 911.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cabot immediately covered her face and turned away from the camera, while a stunned Byron ducked down and exited the frame.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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Patrons ducked under available coverage to keep their tacos and arepas dry.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Electric vehicles don’t use gasoline or diesel, allowing their owners to evade the primary user-fee system that maintains those roads.—
Louis Sigaud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
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Police are searching for a suspect who jumped into the water at Mill Basin to evade police.—
John Dias,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Less than two minutes later, the second-year Celtic received a pass from Payton Pritchard, dodged around a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closeout and nailed a 3-pointer that stretched his team’s lead to double digits.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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The tanker has been subject to European Union sanctions since October due to its role in transporting sanctions-dodging Russian oil exports, according to the Open Sanctions website.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mouth breathing bypasses that process entirely.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
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Lovaglio sought to bypass that by running as a candidate for one of the lender’s shareholders instead.—
Sonia Sirletti,
Bloomberg,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidestep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestep. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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