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 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
Even as the calendar flipped to September and the clinch appeared obvious, the idea of October was sidestepped.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
And Trump’s past comments aren’t the only embarrassment being sidestepped.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
By settling the case, Anthropic has sidestepped an existential risk to its business.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 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
At Thursday’s hearing, neither SpaceX nor US Space Force representatives showed up, likely because the military sidestepped the commission by classifying the Falcon 9 launches as a federal activity.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Wise sidestepped a question about whether Campbell’s arm length could be a detriment.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Even as the calendar flipped to September and the clinch appeared obvious, the idea of October was sidestepped.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
And Trump’s past comments aren’t the only embarrassment being sidestepped.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
By settling the case, Anthropic has sidestepped an existential risk to its business.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 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
At Thursday’s hearing, neither SpaceX nor US Space Force representatives showed up, likely because the military sidestepped the commission by classifying the Falcon 9 launches as a federal activity.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Wise sidestepped a question about whether Campbell’s arm length could be a detriment.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped
Verb
-
But as audiences soon learned, the slayings were only a vision of Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene), which was ultimately circumvented by avoiding a battle with the sinister Volturi at the story's conclusion.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
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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
-
The second time her video captured the boat, the man had ducked down below, almost as if to hide from the camera.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Gardner ducked under the dark cloth and focused the image on the ground glass of his camera.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As a result, Ecuador has avoided the extraordinary inflation that has afflicted so many nations in South America, including Argentina.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Snell deftly avoided the middle of the strike zone and had the Phillies off balance all night.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hauge skillfully evaded Porro for both of his goals.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Frank evaded questions about whether Robertson has ever asked for extra benefits that are not allowed under the NBA salary cap.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But perhaps adding Luis Campusano to the taxi squad on Sunday and not immediately activating him was a clue that Díaz dodged a significant injury.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Seton House closed again in 2009, narrowly dodged demolition in 2011 when neighbors and Historic Denver organized to save it, and reopened as a homeless shelter in 2012.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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How the suspect bypassed these requirements remains under investigation, WBLAHS said.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Seven seconds, seven touches, 70 yards, five opposition players bypassed.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The litigation in that case resolved hundreds of lawsuits alleging the company ignored red flags while filling prescriptions for opioid pain medication.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Mun-ju doesn’t plan to fall for San-ho so quickly after her husband’s death, but the heightened emotion of life-or-death situations spur a sizzling chemistry and deep connection that cannot be ignored.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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