sidetrack

verb

Definition of sidetracknext
as in to deviate

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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 sidetrack Some unnecessary, overlong scenes do drag, allowing the audience to get sidetracked. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 May 2026 Stripe co-founder and president John Collison told CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin on Tuesday that the company isn’t yet aiming for an IPO, which would sidetrack its current product and business growth. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026 Three consecutive presidencies have been sidetracked by immigration-policy overreach. — Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026 The moon’s clash with Mars threatens to sidetrack you. — Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sidetrack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidetrack
  1. deviate
  2. avert
  3. divert
  4. deflect
  5. redirect
  6. move
  7. swerve
  8. shift
Verb
  • Neon has been in communication the SCP Wiki team to ensure the film’s distribution does not deviate from their mission and licensing guidelines.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The complication shows the moon phases for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, with a 135-tooth driving wheel that drastically enhances accuracy, deviating by just one day every 122 years.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • Jackson averted a suspension ahead of this season when authorities declined to file formal criminal charges after he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In Spaceship Earth, when a mission to avert an imminent global cataclysm goes awry, a small band of teenagers from Earth’s past and future must join forces to confront a threat as vast and mysterious as time itself.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of avert
Verb
  • Flights were canceled or diverted, and airport operations were suspended.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Flight-tracking site flightradar24 showed all flights to Riyadh had either been diverted or canceled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport at one point.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of divert
Verb
  • As internal discontent mounts, Chinese leaders will look to deflect it, framing the root cause as America’s civilizational rejection of China’s rise.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Martin juked blockers late in the first half to deflect the first attempt, keeping the score at 7-7.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of deflect
Verb
  • The Bátan River used to flow through Santa María Acuexcomac but had dried up because of decades of water being extracted and redirected to the expanding state capital, Puebla de Zaragoza.
    — Valeria Luongo, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • When the relationship ended two years later, Sarah redirected her energy to self-care, which had a remarkable effect.
    — Georgia Casey, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of redirect
Verb
  • Rural areas account for nearly 40% of sales of fast-moving consumer goods, according to data from consultancy Nielsen Consumer.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Tinubu’s then-employers at Mobil Oil told investigators his treasurer role did not involve moving large sums and that the company never authorized him to hold its funds personally.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of move
Verb
  • Then secrets emerge about Chan-yeong, a 12-year-old boy the family has only ever seen as the culprit, and the case swerves.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • While Hussein was providing assistance, police said another driver approaching the disabled vehicle swerved in an attempt to avoid it and struck Hussein.
    — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of swerve
Verb
  • Good Time Charlie has Haddad shifting into a study of many characters at once and expanding in scale.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Richard’s agile voice leads the way, shifting as often as the music.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of shift

Browse Nearby Words

side tables
sidetrack
sidetracked
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Cite this Entry

“Sidetrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidetrack. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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