1
as in circumvents
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 sidesteps
Built around those calls — punctuated by Hassona’s own images — the film sidesteps the usual remove of war docs for something rawer and more intimate, the kind of testimony that has sparked emotional audience responses since Cannes and subsequent European outings.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
His company, Echo, sidesteps the problem, using not a chip with probes, but a thin film that sits on the brain without penetrating it.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The laser drill sidesteps both problems by keeping all instruments at the surface.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025
But when explicitly asked about the verse and his thoughts on Jones’ comments, Nas completely sidesteps the latter.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The Democrat who venerates more government but sidesteps California’s failing public schools and crushing cost of living.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
This new development, however, completely sidesteps that problem by abandoning conventional mechanics and using laser light for gear motion.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Second, structure it in familiar legal language so that supervisors recognize it as a security or other traditional instrument, and only then represent it in tokens; this approach sidesteps unproductive security-versus-utility debates while ensuring that investor protections remain intact.
—Juan Arroyo, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite the glossy subject matter, Winocour neatly sidesteps clichés, instead searching for quiet moments that give the story emotional resonance.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
His company, Echo, sidesteps the problem, using not a chip with probes, but a thin film that sits on the brain without penetrating it.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The laser drill sidesteps both problems by keeping all instruments at the surface.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025
But when explicitly asked about the verse and his thoughts on Jones’ comments, Nas completely sidesteps the latter.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The Democrat who venerates more government but sidesteps California’s failing public schools and crushing cost of living.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
This new development, however, completely sidesteps that problem by abandoning conventional mechanics and using laser light for gear motion.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Second, structure it in familiar legal language so that supervisors recognize it as a security or other traditional instrument, and only then represent it in tokens; this approach sidesteps unproductive security-versus-utility debates while ensuring that investor protections remain intact.
—Juan Arroyo, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite the glossy subject matter, Winocour neatly sidesteps clichés, instead searching for quiet moments that give the story emotional resonance.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidesteps
Verb
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This gambit circumvents the notorious way that measurements destroy quantumness.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Oct. 2025
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But the Free Speech Coalition said companies might still be liable if a user in a state requiring age verification circumvents geographic targeting with a VPN.—
Jasmine Mithani,
Them.,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Directed by Kewsong Lee Artistic Director Lear deBessonet (Once Upon a Mattress, Into the Woods), the musical weaves fictional narratives with real historical figures and events.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Gran Vilaya Trek weaves a tapestry of natural and cultural wonders, winding through more than 30 miles of ancient cloud forests and pre-Incan archaeological remains.—
Ally Jaksen,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For gardeners in warmer areas, fall planting avoids the stress of a hot summer without adequate root systems.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
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Axiom strictly avoids heavy chemical use as the necessary means to its end goal.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As a train barrels toward her near the final moments of the video, Perry spots a daisy on the tracks — seemingly a nod to her daughter — and dodges disaster.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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On the transgender issue, Earle-Sears has attacked Spanberger over the inclusion of transgender-identifying biological males in women’s sports, restrooms, and locker rooms as the Democratic candidate dodges the subject and says the issue should be handled locally.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In it, his character evades deadly hunters by jumping out a hotel window and then rappelling down the side of a building while wearing barely a stitch.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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The rest of the song fails to answer these questions and evades reference to anything else internet-y, focusing instead on litigating receipts and affairs.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sun ducks down and sets Conejo Mountain against warm pinks and purples, transforming the ridgeline into an epic silhouette.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Dignitaries would climb up Bab al Silsilah, a narrow limestone street that ducks under an arched gate.—
Ryan Byrnes,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Entrepreneurs are offering travel packages for the reverse journey, which bypasses the dangerous Darién Gap by sea.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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This approach bypasses the need for advanced 3D sensors, which struggle to operate reliably in the high-radiation and smooth, reflective metal environment of a reactor’s interior.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even his handling of deportations—another key part of his election platform—has a 52 percent disapproval rating, as Americans grapple with an ICE force that eschews state regulations, ignores due process rights and acts like the president’s personal army.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Any definition that ignores the role of processing is missing the big picture, says Mozaffarian of Tufts University.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidesteps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidesteps. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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