1
as in to bypass
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
employees who try to circumvent the company's dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to avoid
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to traverse
to travel completely around
most casual joggers will be able to circumvent the reservoir without too much of a strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumvent
The order distorts the constitutional amendment process by attempting to use executive power to circumvent the amendment requirements that would necessitate state approval.
—
Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Otherwise, the court said, the law gives migrants an incentive to try to circumvent border crossings, something Congress likely did not intend.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
By locking in a mortgage rate now, buyers can circumvent any changes that can cause rates to spike again.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
While starter home districts would circumvent communities’ larger lot restrictions, that very fact would seem to generally restrict their voluntary adoption in those circumstances.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Otherwise, the court said, the law gives migrants an incentive to try to circumvent border crossings, something Congress likely did not intend.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
By locking in a mortgage rate now, buyers can circumvent any changes that can cause rates to spike again.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
While starter home districts would circumvent communities’ larger lot restrictions, that very fact would seem to generally restrict their voluntary adoption in those circumstances.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumvent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvent
Verb
-
The case that almost wasn’t A March 2023 Cal-OSHA investigation found that the employer bypassed a safety device, making flipping the potentially deadly switch easier.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Rodriguez, for his part, must justify UM’s faith in him after the Canes bypassed adding a starting center in the transfer portal for the first time in four years.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Takaoka played a long arcing ball-ahead to Ocampo, who avoided goalkeeper James Pantemis — who had charged off his line — and rolled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the back post and into a wide-open net.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whether clients are traversing by foot, vehicle, or plane, ALE provides the infrastructure for them.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Kamai trains in celestial navigation, using the stars, winds and waves to traverse the ocean without modern instruments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the 72nd minute, Dudinha, who finished with two assists, stole the ball from Chicago and passed it to Barcenas, who, while moving to her left, delivered a brilliant backheel to her right to evade two defenders.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
To evade interference from electronic jammers, both militaries launch drones attached to miles-long spools of fiber-optic wire - leaving behind a digital spider's web.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As a 10-day moon-circling mission, Artemis II primarily serves as a test flight, with the four-person crew testing systems and hardware ahead of a future landing.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The crew plans to circle the moon as a step toward a lunar landing in 2028 (similar to the way Apollo 8's flight around the moon paved the way for Apollo 11).—
Aaron Gilchrist,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately, fire crews only had to focus on getting the fire out as the two families were able to escape on their own.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the Base — the area above the sheer cliffs that encircle Tristan and below Queen Mary’s Peak — a group herds sheep down from the mountain.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
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Some people lamented on social media the empty spaces around a pond that used to be seamlessly encircled by flowering pink blossoms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is a youngster in great form and proving hard to ignore.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Some Democrats argue that the cost of ignoring young male voters is higher than the risk of association with Piker.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvent. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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