as in walking
to go on foot
to protect the fragile environment of the beach dunes, we must tread cautiously and lightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of treading
California’s population has essentially been treading water since the pandemic.
—
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The Kamloops, British Columbia, native has been a driving force behind DU’s resurgence after the Pioneers were treading water through the first half of the season.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Georgia’s labor market is treading water, according to new data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor.
—Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
But in the meantime, Williams is treading water — and retreading the same talking points that have defined the last three years of his development.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Israel will be treading over familiar ground in southern Lebanon, enjoys intelligence superiority, operational superiority, and has the backing of partners in Lebanon.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Video posted to social media by the sheriff’s office shows the dramatic rescue of the man, treading water near a red canoe before being hoisted into the air by a rescuer attached to a rope dangling from a helicopter.
—Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
Remarkably, Tottenham Hotspur, the Europa League holders, find themselves in danger of treading a similar path, from Bilbao to Lincoln in their case – and in the space of only 12 months.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Getting better, worse, or just treading water?
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The Kamloops, British Columbia, native has been a driving force behind DU’s resurgence after the Pioneers were treading water through the first half of the season.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Georgia’s labor market is treading water, according to new data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor.
—Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
But in the meantime, Williams is treading water — and retreading the same talking points that have defined the last three years of his development.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Israel will be treading over familiar ground in southern Lebanon, enjoys intelligence superiority, operational superiority, and has the backing of partners in Lebanon.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Video posted to social media by the sheriff’s office shows the dramatic rescue of the man, treading water near a red canoe before being hoisted into the air by a rescuer attached to a rope dangling from a helicopter.
—Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
Remarkably, Tottenham Hotspur, the Europa League holders, find themselves in danger of treading a similar path, from Bilbao to Lincoln in their case – and in the space of only 12 months.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Getting better, worse, or just treading water?
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for treading
Verb
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Callers told police that after a brief and seemingly hostile interaction with the occupants of the vehicle, the individual left school property and was last seen walking onto Ryan Lane from Edwards Avenue.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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No walking path existed near its perimeter, underlining the fact that the castle looked down on Berkeley Springs from a position of inaccessible dominance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Guthrie then walked out and waved to the crowd while locking arms with Jenna Bush Hager; the pair could be seen sharing a long hug before stepping outside.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Since stepping away from their royal roles in 2020, Harry, fifth in line to the throne, and Meghan have worked to protect their children's privacy, including shielding their faces from the public eye.—
GMA Team,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Treading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/treading. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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