as in walking
to go on foot
to protect the fragile environment of the beach dunes, we must tread cautiously and lightly
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Recent Examples of treading
But Carolyn was guarded about the revival of John, treading carefully.
—
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Trump is treading on very dangerous ground potentially affecting our very existence.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The earnings season is all but over, but there’s one report left that has investors treading carefully.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026
Other accounts are seemingly treading far less carefully — and getting caught.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026
Summing up the whole picture is impossible, and attempting to do it requires treading carefully, so as to maintain important boundaries between what is definitely true and what seems likely or merely speculative.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Bresland, the rescue commander, told the ABC the family was treading water in rough seas for hours and the mother managed to keep the other children with the paddleboard.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Surplus models represent both an opportunity and a potential trap for consumers looking to secure a bargain on a new vehicle, and brokers urged treading carefully.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Forbes has compiled a list of 20 big private equity zombies—businesses that are either scaling back or simply treading water.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Trump is treading on very dangerous ground potentially affecting our very existence.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The earnings season is all but over, but there’s one report left that has investors treading carefully.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026
Other accounts are seemingly treading far less carefully — and getting caught.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026
Summing up the whole picture is impossible, and attempting to do it requires treading carefully, so as to maintain important boundaries between what is definitely true and what seems likely or merely speculative.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Bresland, the rescue commander, told the ABC the family was treading water in rough seas for hours and the mother managed to keep the other children with the paddleboard.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Surplus models represent both an opportunity and a potential trap for consumers looking to secure a bargain on a new vehicle, and brokers urged treading carefully.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Forbes has compiled a list of 20 big private equity zombies—businesses that are either scaling back or simply treading water.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for treading
Verb
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Another, smaller girl in pinkish pants can be seen walking closely behind the girl in blue.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 53-year-old Japanese designer, who founded cult label Number (N)ine in 1997, is relaunching the brand 15 years after stepping away from it.—
Ashley Ogawa Clarke,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
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Imagine stepping onto a quiet stretch of sand, your toes sinking into sugar-white powder, waves lapping gently at the shore, and sunlight sparkling across the turquoise Gulf waters.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Treading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/treading. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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