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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Trump sidestepped questions about Johnson’s comments, instead touting his strong polling numbers.
—
Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
Adler’s study underscores how easily a chatbot can join a user in a conversation that becomes untethered from reality—and how easily the AI platforms’ internal safeguards can be sidestepped or overcome.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
And at many universities the process through which differences in institutional values are surfaced and reconciled is unclear, especially as AI initiatives have often sidestepped democratic faculty governance.
—Chris Wegemer, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Roseman’s answer at the time sidestepped a question about a post-Darius Slay drop-off at CB2 that has since been exploited at times this season, but Mitchell and DeJean’s play has also justified Roseman’s confidence in them.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The letter, however, sidestepped any talk of changes to Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
And Trump’s past comments aren’t the only embarrassment being sidestepped.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Trump has sidestepped norms on central bank independence to openly criticize and threaten its top policymakers over their monetary policy decisions.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Witkoff sidestepped a direct question about the veracity of reporting suggesting Putin agreed to end the war if Ukraine ceded the entire Donbas region to Russia, including territory not currently held by Russia.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025
Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
Adler’s study underscores how easily a chatbot can join a user in a conversation that becomes untethered from reality—and how easily the AI platforms’ internal safeguards can be sidestepped or overcome.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
And at many universities the process through which differences in institutional values are surfaced and reconciled is unclear, especially as AI initiatives have often sidestepped democratic faculty governance.
—Chris Wegemer, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Roseman’s answer at the time sidestepped a question about a post-Darius Slay drop-off at CB2 that has since been exploited at times this season, but Mitchell and DeJean’s play has also justified Roseman’s confidence in them.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The letter, however, sidestepped any talk of changes to Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
And Trump’s past comments aren’t the only embarrassment being sidestepped.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Trump has sidestepped norms on central bank independence to openly criticize and threaten its top policymakers over their monetary policy decisions.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Witkoff sidestepped a direct question about the veracity of reporting suggesting Putin agreed to end the war if Ukraine ceded the entire Donbas region to Russia, including territory not currently held by Russia.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped
Verb
-
The man reportedly circumvented barriers that surround the altar, climbed the steps and urinated on the holy structure.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The league could void the Clippers-Leonard contract and order the forfeiture of first-round picks, a penalty experienced by the Minnesota Timberwolves when they were found to have circumvented the cap to sign Joe Smith.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
His new changeup ducked under bats to bamboozle the Mariners’ lefties.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By contrast, Lai has avoided implying that there exists one China that includes Taiwan.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Except for a few urgent medical issues, such as an infected cut, Reed avoided health care providers.—
Charlotte Huff,
NPR,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But this freedom evaded Russia because the Soviet system was never fully dismantled.—
Kathleen Collins,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Data from the agency estimates that 33% of bus riders evaded paying fares in 2025.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, in a recent interview with fellow journalist Jorge Ramos, Mamdani dodged questions about whether Venezuela’s and Cuba’s rulers are dictators.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The lieutenant governor is adamant that transgender girls be excluded from sports teams and banned from bathrooms, while Spanberger has dodged the subject and claimed that school issues should be handled locally.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The courts in each case found that the DOJ bypassed this process, extending interim appointments without Senate approval or judicial selection.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Bessent, who specialized in foreign exchange in a decades-long hedge fund career, organized a $20 billion foreign-exchange swap with Argentina’s central bank earlier this month — an unusual structure that bypassed the US Federal Reserve, which is typically the lead party in such arrangements.—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a separate statement to Whittier Daily News, Rowley claimed that the city had ignored complaints about upraised sidewalks caused by tree roots for years, and stated the city had not implemented adequate inspection protocols.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Kim Kardashian's refusal to watch Fatal Attraction is not going to be ignored by Kris Jenner, thank you very much!—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share