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
The process sidesteps the need for most users to provide identifiable information like a driver’s license, one of the main criticisms of age verification technologies due to privacy and security risks.
—
Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The celebration of global digital access conveniently sidesteps the question of Americans who may be left behind in this streaming future.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Dec. 2025
This eliminates extra weight and power consumption, helps keep costs down, and sidesteps the privacy concerns that proved to be one of the main sticking points for Google Glass.
—IEEE Spectrum, 13 Nov. 2025
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
Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The celebration of global digital access conveniently sidesteps the question of Americans who may be left behind in this streaming future.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Dec. 2025
This eliminates extra weight and power consumption, helps keep costs down, and sidesteps the privacy concerns that proved to be one of the main sticking points for Google Glass.
—IEEE Spectrum, 13 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidesteps
Verb
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California’s redistricting measure temporarily circumvents the independent system previously used to draw congressional maps in an effort to combat Texas Republicans’ own redistricting move that could net the GOP up to five additional House seats in the next midterms.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
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This gambit circumvents the notorious way that measurements destroy quantumness.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The train weaves through tall mountains and lush green jungle—ferns, bromeliads and plenty of green foliage consume the right-hand side of the train.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Or, take Highway 101 through Hopland and Ukiah to Highway 20, which weaves through stunning forests on its way west toward the coast and Fort Bragg.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, Stanton is so eager to build his overarching vision that the film avoids spending time with any of these people.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This neutral boundary-setting phrase avoids unnecessary over-explaining.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
White, however, dodges, aiming toward clever.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
29 Jan. 2026
-
If someone dodges your requests, try asking a clarifying question to avoid hidden assumptions.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
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In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 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
-
Garcia’s finest new dishes underscore his talent for complexity that bypasses showiness.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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Scent bypasses your logical brain, hitting emotions and memory directly.—
Christopher Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ma puts the red wine to one side, ignores the shortbread, and scoops a glob of cream cheese onto her fingertip.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
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But that ignores the middle stages, where the majority of the chaos and excitement happens.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidesteps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidesteps. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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