sidetracking

verb

present participle of sidetrack
as in deviating

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidetracking
  1. deviating
  2. averting
  3. deflecting
  4. diverting
  5. shifting
  6. redirecting
  7. switching
  8. veering
Verb
  • The artisans stay true to the original colors and designs of the park — never deviating in 70 years.
    — Carole Horst, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In 2024, the government decided against deviating from the 2021 census questions in the interests of maintaining social cohesion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of deviating
Verb
  • The settlement was reached during a California federal trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users.
    — Diana Novak Jones, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Legislature passes bill aimed at averting Milwaukee financial crisis, lifting aid to local governments.
    — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of averting
Verb
  • Rather than simply reducing opponents’ health, players seek to break opponents’ posture by precisely deflecting and countering attacks.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The former Carolina Panthers linebacker spent his 15 minutes deflecting credit and thanking others, showering dozens of people from his life with praise.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of deflecting
Verb
  • But arrest affidavits accuse the parents of diverting authorities away from the South Carolina waterways during the search.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The grand jury said a criminal case would be difficult to prove because prominent witnesses did not name who was responsible for diverting the money.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of diverting
Verb
  • Temperatures are at record highs, currents are shifting and stronger storms wash more pollutants into the water, including sewage and fertilizers, which can trigger huge algae blooms.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Her arrival stirs enough secrets, crushes, and shifting loyalties to fill an eight-episode TV show.
    — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of shifting
Verb
  • On Thursday, an older gentleman started at the sign with a green arrow redirecting patrons on the post-construction path.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
  • His trajectory shifts when a virtual quest screen appears before him, redirecting him toward life as an army cook.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of redirecting
Verb
  • While many employers look down on this sort of professional promiscuity, new research suggests there are benefits to switching jobs frequently.
    — Adrian Ma, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Different providers and models may make sense for different workloads, so sourcing decisions need to account for performance, cost, security, compliance, switching flexibility and concentration risk over time.
    — Prajkta Waditwar, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of switching
Verb
  • When Fyodor drags himself on the floor, begging for forgiveness or a bit more money to play roulette, the gesture straddles the line between humor and intense discomfort — veering into cringe comedy.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • About an hour into the descent, the hikers called Siskiyou County dispatchers for directions before veering off-route into Mud Creek Canyon.
    — Darrell Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of veering
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Sidetracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidetracking. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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