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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ducked

to move suddenly aside or to and fro the startled spectator sidestepped away from the oncoming ball

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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 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 The president, who sat down with Time magazine for a 75-minute interview published Thursday, sidestepped multiple questions about Netanyahu’s reelection bid. — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 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

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
But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of the NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard's compensation.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 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

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
Each time the door shut behind the man, Shawn had the feeling that some danger had been temporarily dodged, some crisis averted until the next day.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of dodged

Verb

Last year, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s vaunted air defenses and impacted near Ben Gurion airport.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
State police said evidence was located at the scene which indicated that a 2022 Triumph Rocket 3 GT, operated by 56-year-old Alexander Rivera of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was struck by vehicle that allegedly evaded the scene.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

And in New York, Democrats bypassed an independent commission to pass a gerrymander that favored them, but the state’s highest court struck it down.

— Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 15 Oct. 2026
Container shipping has largely bypassed the conduit—which harbored shipments of roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas supply before the war—throughout the nearly eight-month conflict.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of bypassed

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sidestep

sidestepped

sidestepping

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“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sidestepped

verb

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