sidetracks

verb

present tense third-person singular of sidetrack
as in deviates

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidetracks
  1. deviates
  2. averts
  3. diverts
  4. deflects
  5. swerves
  6. redirects
  7. switches
  8. shifts
Verb
  • According to the distillery, the whiskey is made using the same distillation and barrel-entry proof as the core bourbon, but then deviates from there.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
  • The Washington Post spoke to seven current and former National Park Service staffers who said the policy deviates from the agency’s long-standing approach to release as much information as possible.
    — Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of deviates
Verb
  • The author's experience shows caution, though slower, averts problems, contrasting with industry's rapid deployments that often encounter issues.
    — Shannon McKeen, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The deal averts a ballot referendum that backers from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said would’ve reigned in expansive local real estate taxes.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of averts
Verb
  • The attempt by former HFPA members to leverage the Golden Globe Foundation, an independent nonprofit, simply to secure Golden Globes tickets is an unfortunate distraction that inappropriately diverts resources from legitimate charitable causes.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 July 2026
  • An Israeli military official said such violence by Israelis diverts the defense force’s attention from its primary mission of defense and counterterrorism in a complex environment.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026
Definition of diverts
Verb
  • Because the unexpected droppers have created confusion, however, QB Matthew Stafford throws a pass that deflects off Spillane and is intercepted.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 July 2026
  • Porsha deflects, saying Drew ruined the mood.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of deflects
Verb
  • The elegant staging tries to compensate, but the performers have to rely a little too heavily on their own charms to make up the difference in a play that swerves unexpectedly at the end into a cutesy fairy tale.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • At times comical, each of these stories swerves and plunges deep into dark truths of human nature.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Definition of swerves
Verb
  • Time saved is only potential value until leadership redirects it toward a measurable outcome.
    — Brian Solis, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Deadheading keeps flowers from using energy to go to seed, and redirects it toward more growth.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
Definition of redirects
Verb
  • The World Cup has come to an end, so the focus for fans immediately switches back to transfers and domestic football.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • In her dual role, Chastain switches seamlessly between her two personas while the rest of the family struggles to keep track of who’s who.
    — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of switches
Verb
  • This discussion point also shifts the conversation from staying in the past towards the future.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • The film joins Totem’s sales slate as the company shifts its primary focus to production.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026
Definition of shifts
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

sidetracking
sidetracks
sideward
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sidetracks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidetracks. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sidetracks

Nglish: Translation of sidetracks for Spanish Speakers

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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All