SIDESTEPPED Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

sidestepped

verb

past tense of sidestep

as in circumvented

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 ducked

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 sidestepped The mayor’s office sidestepped a question from The Times on the opening date discrepancy, and didn’t respond to questions on whether DWP and LAWA are expected to sign the power agreement before the train opens. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Trump sidestepped a question earlier this month on Netanyahu's reelection bid. — Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026 Payton also told offensive players about the change Monday but sidestepped questions twice -- once after the Broncos’ 24-14 loss to San Francisco and again Wednesday -- about Webb’s future calling plays. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 The blind man nudged the ferrule of his cane into the bulk of the sleeping figure, sidestepped him deftly, and moved on to the end of the block, a stoplight, heavy traffic, cyclists, big scary trucks. — Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026 In public appearances, Netanyahu sidestepped questions about whether Israel would investigate the incident alongside Riyadh officials. — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026 Patrick Mahomes sidestepped pressure on the next snap, then moved up in the pocket and fired low to wide receiver Rashee Rice, who made a sliding catch in a window against zone coverage. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026 Warner had the most eyebrow-raising quote of the 49ers’ postgame press conferences ahead of their 16-hour flight home, while many of his teammates sidestepped questions about the disparate approaches the teams had before the game. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Despite the shortstop’s inadvertent trespassing into Bush’s headspace, the president sidestepped the ceremonial mark at the front of the mound and toed the rubber like a pro. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped

Verb

Ballmer and the Clippers are serving vast penalties after the NBA determined the team circumvented the salary cap to steer funds to star Kawhi Leonard.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of circumvented

Verb

All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Final accounting for 2025-26 revenue sharing is still to be completed, but big market clubs are on the hook for bigger bills after seven teams ducked under the luxury tax threshold ahead of the trade deadline.

— Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of ducked

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

Take a Fall Hike Galena sits on the southern edge of the Driftless Area, where rivers and rocky bluffs dodged the flattening force of glaciers long ago.

— Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 14 Oct. 2026
Oregon’s Lanning compares UCLA to national champs Oregon coach Dan Lanning dodged questions this past week about the health of quarterback Dante Moore following a brutal hit during a win over USC by trying to focus on UCLA.

— Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of dodged

Verb

On his lone touchdown pass, Mayfield escaped Carolina pressure, evaded to the right, and threw it on the run, off his back foot, all while leaning back.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Instead, Cartwright returns to his deceased grandfather’s home thrilled to see that Baker has successfully evaded both the Russian assassins and MI5’s own rabid dogs.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

Anthropic initially told Axios the model had gotten around a paywall, but Georgia’s secretary of state’s office said Monday that Anthropic had confirmed the model had not bypassed a paywall and had used the state’s public Data Hub.

— Shae Lake, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026
But the deal also poses a challenge to Johannesburg, which has long traded on its status as Africa’s most liquid capital market — larger than the rest of the continent’s bourses combined — because the IPO largely bypassed it.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of bypassed

Browse Nearby Words

sidestep

sidestepped

sidestepping

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sidestepped

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Pyrrhic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes