1
as in circumvented
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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Recent Examples of sidestepped
The official sidestepped a question about whether Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has personally signed off on the current agreement.
—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Bankman-Fried’s petition follows the Justice Department process for leniency used by thousands of people every year — a system Trump has often sidestepped in his second term.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
The Hawks’ veteran guard CJ McCollum, always excellent but usually a sideman to a brighter star, dribbled and sidestepped through and around the Knicks defense, suddenly looking like one of the best offensive players in the league.
—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Brown sidestepped a question about the internal dysfunction that led to his exit from Philly, which included complaints about the Eagles’ offense and a soured relationship with Eagles QB Jalen Hurts.
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
The project’s developers sidestepped the city’s 30-foot coastal height limit approved by voters in 1972 through a state density bonus law to encourage affordable housing that apparently overrides local ordinances.
—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
When asked if Richardson, who is 8-7 as a starter, will challenge Leonard for the QB2 role if he’s not traded, Dodds sidestepped the question.
—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
When Republican lawmakers in 2016 sidestepped Missouri’s Democratic governor and enacted a sweeping firearms law, the move solidified the state as a gun rights haven.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
School districts nationwide, including one in Northern California, have issued layoff notices to mental health workers after the Education Department sidestepped a court order protecting federal grant funding.
—
Sudhin Thanawala,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Bankman-Fried’s petition follows the Justice Department process for leniency used by thousands of people every year — a system Trump has often sidestepped in his second term.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
The Hawks’ veteran guard CJ McCollum, always excellent but usually a sideman to a brighter star, dribbled and sidestepped through and around the Knicks defense, suddenly looking like one of the best offensive players in the league.
—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Brown sidestepped a question about the internal dysfunction that led to his exit from Philly, which included complaints about the Eagles’ offense and a soured relationship with Eagles QB Jalen Hurts.
—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
The project’s developers sidestepped the city’s 30-foot coastal height limit approved by voters in 1972 through a state density bonus law to encourage affordable housing that apparently overrides local ordinances.
—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
When asked if Richardson, who is 8-7 as a starter, will challenge Leonard for the QB2 role if he’s not traded, Dodds sidestepped the question.
—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
When Republican lawmakers in 2016 sidestepped Missouri’s Democratic governor and enacted a sweeping firearms law, the move solidified the state as a gun rights haven.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
School districts nationwide, including one in Northern California, have issued layoff notices to mental health workers after the Education Department sidestepped a court order protecting federal grant funding.
—
Sudhin Thanawala,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped
Verb
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About 20 African countries actively uphold term limits, the think tank says, while others have abolished or circumvented them, or are under military regimes that have suspended constitutional rule, allowing long-serving leaders to remain in office.
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While critics argue these measures can be easily circumvented with VPNs, Snapchat’s aggressive lockdown proves that platforms are finally feeling compelled to act in defense of a wider social media ban.
Verb
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The Daily Mail reports that a woman dressed in a black strapless dress ducked under a line divider and started throwing punches at a woman in her pajamas.
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The nurse told investigators Samuelson saved his life, and according to court documents, surveillance video also shows that immediately after the nurse ducked into the hallway to get away from Grafton, Samuelson stopped moving and appeared motionless.
Verb
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Malepeai, her co-defendant Freddie Lee Davis III, and two others who avoided federal charges were identified by police as members of a robbery crew that committed violent purse snatchings around the Bay Area.
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After not being present for voluntary activities throughout the offseason, Pickens avoided a contract holdout situation and reported to The Star for the first time since the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Verb
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Newsom's counter proposal calls for a federal minimum tax rate on Americans worth more than $100 million, rather than a state level one-time 5% wealth tax that the governor argues could be dodged by billionaires who could leave the state for another.
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Canada thus dodged a tougher opponent and a hostile environment.
Verb
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California Highway Patrol arrested a Sacramento man who police say evaded arrest and stole a patrol car, the Sacramento Police Department announced Friday afternoon.
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For years, Heuermann evaded law enforcement despite the discovery of four of the victims' remains in 2010.
Verb
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Though long bypassed by interstates, the historic highway, home of scenic vistas and roadside curiosities, continues to attract travelers searching for an America of yesterday.
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While 9 in 10 parents support the move, experts warn of potential enforcement challenges, citing Australia's mixed results where many children bypassed similar bans or moved to less regulated sites.
Verb
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After years of exam leaks, persistently high youth unemployment, and opportunities slipping further out of reach, their simmering frustration is sparking a demand for accountability that many say can no longer be ignored.
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Several states and agencies also charge for rescues, particularly when visitors have ignored warning signs.
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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