sidetracking

Definition of sidetrackingnext
present participle of sidetrack

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidetracking
Verb
  • On the flip side, deviating from perfection—not landing the lead in a school play or getting hormonal acne—registers as a personal humiliation rather than an inevitable part of growing up and being human.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Dim Sum Night at Arcadia PC Arcadia is deviating from its usual menu to offer a special night of Dim Sum.
    Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
  • In some ways, the moment was a replay of 1977, but this time Woodruff looked directly at Walker, instead of averting his eyes.
    Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Fuerst beat his man and flicked the puck on net, deflecting off the underside of Moreland’s glove and into the net.
    Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Five goals down at half-time, the Azerbaijani champions were hapless and guileless, incapable of delaying or deflecting Gordon’s acceleration and utterly without attacking merit until the game was yanked far beyond them.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is diverting millions of barrels of crude to a port on its Red Sea coast, helping the world’s top exporter maintain some supplies.
    Arsalan Shahla, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
  • This marks the first example of a ship diverting from Europe to Asia during the current price spike, the firm said.
    Lee Ying Shan,Anniek Bao,Victor Loh, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • At a time when thousands of local newspapers across the nation have folded in the face of plummeting web traffic, advertising losses and shifting reader habits, the rebirth of a community news outlet is rare.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The visuals of erupting volcanoes, shifting mountain ranges, and ocean expansion all feature heavily as well—and will probably be what half of my family remembers most about the series.
    Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • An early morning crash shut down the main lanes, forcing traffic off the highway at Exit 227 (Slaughter Lane) and redirecting it onto the northbound frontage road.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Gakpo’s outstretched boot had connected with Ekitike’s header first, redirecting it onto Jones’ head, sending the ball upwards.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • During the season, coach Bort Escoto changed his team’s offense, switching to run-and-gun style put in by Paul Westhead years ago at Loyola Marymount and now the Spartans are in the Division V regional final.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • While Indiana has spent some time without switching clocks, Hoosiers currently turn their clocks forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall.
    Chris Sims, IndyStar, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The curved silhouette subtly frames the décolletage without veering into overt glamour, striking a balance between softness and sophistication.
    Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The beverage program, led by Mariena Mercer Boarini, is polished and exacting without veering into theatrics.
    David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sidetracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidetracking. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sidetracking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster