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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sidestep
But when explicitly asked about the verse and his thoughts on Jones’ comments, Nas completely sidesteps the latter.
—
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
It’s been speculated Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk fired Callahan this week to sidestep the embarrassment of Vrabel schooling his successor Sunday.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Andrews threw her support behind some of the projects despite opposition from neighbors and also proposed exceptions that allowed luxury apartment developments to sidestep affordable housing requirements.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025
Analysts point to how the restrictions have held, despite high-level pushback by other prominent clerics, and multiple attempts on the ground to sidestep the rules.
—NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
It’s been speculated Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk fired Callahan this week to sidestep the embarrassment of Vrabel schooling his successor Sunday.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Andrews threw her support behind some of the projects despite opposition from neighbors and also proposed exceptions that allowed luxury apartment developments to sidestep affordable housing requirements.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025
Analysts point to how the restrictions have held, despite high-level pushback by other prominent clerics, and multiple attempts on the ground to sidestep the rules.
—NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestep
Verb
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Cosmologists and mathematical physicists often seek ways to circumvent the theorem, looking to quantum gravity (or other non-standard scenarios) to break us out of the requirements that general relativity imposes.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
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And, though users can make the most of lackluster AI moderation (Grok Imagine) or figure out clever ways to circumvent guardrails (Sora) in order to misrepresent famous people, the greater danger probably comes from videos that purport to capture events involving unknown parties.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those numbers show just how dangerous unsafe driving can be, from weaving through traffic to tailgating or driving under the influence.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
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An Arthurian theme is at play in the novel, and Hill weaves in a grand love story as well.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Of course, anyone with a tree-nut allergy should avoid almond butter altogether.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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Tillery also advises her clients to skip overpacking and go with carry-on luggage to avoid unnecessary baggage fees or inconveniences if there are flight changes.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Take the train from Copenhagen in under three hours and wander Aarhus’s pretty streets strung with Christmas lights, ducking into boutiques and cafés before making your way to one of two Christmas markets.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
27 Oct. 2025
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Qing Yuan opened the tap, gripped the edge of the trough, and ducked his head under the water.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Simmons added that the play would’ve worked in the game except that Stone had to evade a defender, and that caused Jenkins to briefly stop.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
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First Ascents in South Korea Chouinard reportedly drank an entire bottle of soy sauce in an effort to spike his blood pressure and evade a draft for the Korean War.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To keep the action always moving at maximum speed, levels often poorly telegraph where the player is supposed to jump or dodge to, leading to cheap deaths even past the first go around.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
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Stacey, in true Rusch fashion, dodges the question.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Court documents show Bass and Randle knew the window was a safety hazard since June 2023, and that their children had been able to bypass the locks since December.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
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When exposed to cancer-causing agents or to ultraviolet B light, McSCs can bypass this protective response.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidestep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestep. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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