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
Ali Grace, founder and CEO of her namesake denim label, for example, said her business has been largely insulated, thanks in part to a model that sidesteps many of the pressures facing traditional supply chains.
—
Andre Claudio, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
The letter marks a shift in how law enforcement approaches the market of industrial hemp, which sidesteps Missouri’s regulated market with products that are intoxicating but outside of the federal government’s definition of marijuana.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Republicans have also discussed using reconciliation, which sidesteps the 60 votes needed under the filibuster, to fund the war in Iran.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Fox’s omission was a window into how the pro-Trump network selectively amplifies or sidesteps his rhetoric depending on the moment.
—Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
When the inevitable final showdown comes to pass, where Liborio must defeat a more prepared opponent inside the ring, the story sidesteps the image of a girlfriend near the ropes acting as the ultimate motivation for the fighter to get up and win even if the cards were stacked against him.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
His clever autofictional dodge sidesteps the expectation that trans people must explain their life to outsiders.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
The arrangement sidesteps efforts to tie State Farm’s rates to its handling of disaster claims.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Maynard effectively sidesteps the occasion for the profile — Judy’s new, bestselling, sexy adult novel — to offer an evaluation of her outsize role in youth culture.
—Mark Oppenheimer, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
Andre Claudio, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
The letter marks a shift in how law enforcement approaches the market of industrial hemp, which sidesteps Missouri’s regulated market with products that are intoxicating but outside of the federal government’s definition of marijuana.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Republicans have also discussed using reconciliation, which sidesteps the 60 votes needed under the filibuster, to fund the war in Iran.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Fox’s omission was a window into how the pro-Trump network selectively amplifies or sidesteps his rhetoric depending on the moment.
—Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
When the inevitable final showdown comes to pass, where Liborio must defeat a more prepared opponent inside the ring, the story sidesteps the image of a girlfriend near the ropes acting as the ultimate motivation for the fighter to get up and win even if the cards were stacked against him.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
His clever autofictional dodge sidesteps the expectation that trans people must explain their life to outsiders.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
The arrangement sidesteps efforts to tie State Farm’s rates to its handling of disaster claims.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Maynard effectively sidesteps the occasion for the profile — Judy’s new, bestselling, sexy adult novel — to offer an evaluation of her outsize role in youth culture.
—Mark Oppenheimer, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidesteps
Verb
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This funneling of men outside of the traditional health system circumvents the important step of appropriate medical workups.—
Denise Asafu-Adjei,
STAT,
13 Apr. 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz is pumping oil at its full capacity of 7 million barrels a day, according to a person familiar with the matter.—
Emma Ross-Thomas,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The story follows two competing MCs – MC Badnaam and OG – whose feud weaves together revenge, ambition, and coming-of-age themes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
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Breaking away from pushing out frustrating pop-up ads that interrupt games, Albert's company weaves their clients' brands into them on some of the biggest platforms.—
Jack Springgate,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rather than intervene on the distressed woman’s behalf, everyone else avoids eye contact, keeping their faces glued to their phones — including our ashamed hero, who’s about to get a call that will put him face to face with the possibility of fatherhood himself.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
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OpenAI’s paper conspicuously avoids specifying a corporate tax rate, a diplomatic omission that suggests the company knows where the political land mines are buried.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If someone dodges details, slow down and repeat the key request.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
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Continue reading … VETTING FAILURE — Far-left firebrand dodges questions over hiring bodyguard with criminal history.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But even if Booker’s appearance evades the FCC’s scrutiny, the commission is closely watching TV talk programs, with The View in particular a subject of interest.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
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But how does one set out to write a biography about the creation of an author who not only can’t be reached, but actively evades the spotlight?—
Costa Beavin Pappas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the video, the subject ducks his head in the opposite direction of the doorbell camera.—
Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita , Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, future funding for immigration enforcement could be approved along party lines through reconciliation, which bypasses the Senate filibuster.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
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The mother allegedly also asked for hospice services and total parenteral nutrition, which is delivered intravenously and bypasses the digestive system.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most critically, the report measures income and largely ignores wealth, debt, and geographic reality.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
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Any claim that the District has remained unresponsive or uncooperative is patently false and ignores months of direct consultation.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidesteps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidesteps. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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