as in bypassing
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1
as in circumventing
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 sidestepping
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2026
Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Surrounded by trees and mountain landscapes, the transparent structure delivers the atmosphere of an outdoor wedding while sidestepping many of the logistical headaches that come with weather-dependent venues.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 31 May 2026
And sidestepping tough topics could do just as much harm as tackling them, since deep conversations are important for the health of our relationships.
—Lisa Pavia-Higel, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
That pitch dovetails with SPAN’s latest smart devices aimed at helping grid operators manage growing electrical loads without costly power infrastructure upgrades—sidestepping the need to pass on infrastructure investment costs to customers through higher utility bills.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s has provisionally enacted the deal, effectively sidestepping the EU Parliament where the agreement is now being challenged by EU lawmakers at the bloc’s judiciary.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
In this case, critics argue, the township approved the project through a court settlement without formally changing the zoning—effectively sidestepping that part of the process.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The global micro-drama surge is also the story of a predominantly female audience, hungry for romance and fantasy, sidestepping legacy gatekeepers.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
For-profit North Carolina companies have been sidestepping property tax payments through a loophole that continues to grow in popularity, chipping away at the tax base for local governments like Mecklenburg County.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
One was the very clear sidestepping of Palestinian sovereignty, and the second was the issue of Iran.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Not only will O'Neil's sidestepping of questions fuel the fire, but the circuit's next event on the calendar is not scheduled until July 23-26 in the United Kingdom, leaving ample time for reports and rumors to drum up even more uncertainty.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Surrounded by trees and mountain landscapes, the transparent structure delivers the atmosphere of an outdoor wedding while sidestepping many of the logistical headaches that come with weather-dependent venues.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 31 May 2026
And sidestepping tough topics could do just as much harm as tackling them, since deep conversations are important for the health of our relationships.
—Lisa Pavia-Higel, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
That pitch dovetails with SPAN’s latest smart devices aimed at helping grid operators manage growing electrical loads without costly power infrastructure upgrades—sidestepping the need to pass on infrastructure investment costs to customers through higher utility bills.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s has provisionally enacted the deal, effectively sidestepping the EU Parliament where the agreement is now being challenged by EU lawmakers at the bloc’s judiciary.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
In this case, critics argue, the township approved the project through a court settlement without formally changing the zoning—effectively sidestepping that part of the process.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The global micro-drama surge is also the story of a predominantly female audience, hungry for romance and fantasy, sidestepping legacy gatekeepers.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
For-profit North Carolina companies have been sidestepping property tax payments through a loophole that continues to grow in popularity, chipping away at the tax base for local governments like Mecklenburg County.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepping
Noun
-
Assistive listening studies report that bypassing room acoustics and delivering audio directly can improve signal‑to‑noise ratios by 15–20 dB, making announcements comprehensible and lectures clearer [8].—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The facility, intended as the largest addition to the White House since the Oval Office, has sparked debate among historians, preservationists, commentators, and the public due to its demolition of the historic East Wing and the bypassing of standard preservation reviews.—
Associate News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Some attorneys and advocates say that Florida’s family courts are essentially stripping parents of their rights to their children without any oversight, circumventing state law.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
-
Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, who has cooperated with an NBA investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers possibly circumventing the salary cap via a no-show endorsement deal with Kawhi Leonard, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Monday.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Otherwise, Makar will be wincing through pain trying to explain the unfathomable, Blackwood will be dropping F-bombs in disbelief and MacKinnon will be ducking reporters despite being the team’s best player.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
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Now, 25 games and 577 days since the injury that put his career in jeopardy, there was All on the Bengals’ practice fields, cutting and accelerating, extending for receptions and ducking into blocking assignments.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Experienced DIYers can also replace damaged deck boards, install skirting, or add a privacy screen wall.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
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That’s evidenced by the GOP’s skirting of the issue.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There should be visibility into how the AI works, which means avoiding black box solutions.—
Tomas Gorny,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
McClary said there has been a surge in Americans coming to his nonprofit group and partners across the country to seek help on managing debt and avoiding bankruptcy and debt collectors.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The footage appears to show the SUV weaving through traffic at high speed.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
Between hauling bags up subway stairs, weaving through Penn Station, and occasionally sprinting to the correct track, comfortable footwear is non-negotiable.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Less clear, however, is the status of Leonard amid the NBA’s investigation into potential salary-cap circumvention by the Clippers regarding Leonard.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
-
Iranians normally access these only through circumvention tools, such as VPNs.—
Holly Dagres,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Verb
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She was later arrested on suspicion of evading police and assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, investigators said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 June 2026
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Daniels later pleaded no contest to evading a police officer, court records show, in a deal that saw prosecutors dismiss numerous other charges, including second degree burglary of a vehicle and four counts of assault on a police officer.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepping. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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