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
Twice, Breslow sidestepped his own previous comments that in-season moves of this caliber often make things worse.
—
Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The $349 billion January budget, which includes $248 billion in general fund spending, was admittedly a placeholder that sidestepped the larger issues.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Business executive Clark Dean, the only Republican who accepted the civic group’s invitation, largely sidestepped specific spending commitments and pitched a business-minded overhaul of government.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Peters sidestepped a question on whether Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed — a former health director who has carved out a progressive lane in the Michigan Senate primary due to take place this August — could succeed him in the election.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The suit alleges that members sidestepped state transparency laws by secretly touring a Dallas data center just days before a key vote in Granbury.
—Matthew Davisson, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Leavitt sidestepped questions about who currently controls the oil route.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
She was asked about the incident on Saturday, and sidestepped the question.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Courts, however, have consistently rejected or sidestepped those 14th Amendment claims over the past quarter century, while almost uniformly upholding the policy interpretation.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The $349 billion January budget, which includes $248 billion in general fund spending, was admittedly a placeholder that sidestepped the larger issues.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Business executive Clark Dean, the only Republican who accepted the civic group’s invitation, largely sidestepped specific spending commitments and pitched a business-minded overhaul of government.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Peters sidestepped a question on whether Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed — a former health director who has carved out a progressive lane in the Michigan Senate primary due to take place this August — could succeed him in the election.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The suit alleges that members sidestepped state transparency laws by secretly touring a Dallas data center just days before a key vote in Granbury.
—Matthew Davisson, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Leavitt sidestepped questions about who currently controls the oil route.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
She was asked about the incident on Saturday, and sidestepped the question.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Courts, however, have consistently rejected or sidestepped those 14th Amendment claims over the past quarter century, while almost uniformly upholding the policy interpretation.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped
Verb
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The leak caused consternation from department brass, Moers alleged, who were not happy that his commission had circumvented proper channels to receive emergency funding.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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David Anders is the Wachtell Lipton attorney leading the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league’s salary cap rules to compensate Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When shots were fired, hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover inside the ballroom before being evacuated, and the event was subsequently postponed.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The president was evacuated off the stage as thousands of guests dived under tables and ducked for cover.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Given the importance of preserving relations with the FCC, which has a say over a range of local station matters and must approve any mergers involving the transfer of broadcast licenses, LeGeyt has deliberately avoided a direct clash with his Washington counterpart.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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In Ukraine, Harry stepped into territory traditionally avoided by the royals.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Garcia sprinted off exiting through a side entrance and evaded authorities until cops nabbed him on March 25, 2026.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Gutiérrez worries that Trump’s eagerness for a trophy that has evaded 12 Democratic and Republican presidents could get the better of him.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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During her Senate hearing, Means dodged some questions about those stances.—
Brennan Leach,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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But this bullet has been dodged.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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West Ham did look to play out from the back, but often bypassed Golambeckis.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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The Heat bypassed an Herro contract-extension window in October, after the seventh-year guard underwent surgery on his left ankle in September, a procedure that sidelined the former All-Star for the first 17 games of the season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Colorectal Cancer Alliance's survey shows younger patients' symptoms often go ignored, delaying diagnosis and treatment.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Other Bennet Sister BritBox, May 6 Hadlow’s continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice imagines the fortunes of Mary Bennet, aka the boring (though not entirely ignored) one.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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