1
as in bypassed
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 avoided
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traversed
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 circumvented
According to family lore, Henry had somehow circumvented the state’s strict law against educating the enslaved and become literate.
—
Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
The defense also argued that the decision to seek the death penalty was political and circumvented the federal government's protocols.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2026
The legislation targeting transgender Kansans was adopted after a series of remarkable procedural maneuvers that circumvented all public input on key provisions of the bill, including a ban on multi-occupancy unisex restrooms and other private spaces.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Bill Clinton circumvented political accountability by pardoning the financier Marc Rich, the ex-husband of an influential Democratic donor, on the last day of his presidency.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In 1940, Germany circumvented the Maginot Line by invading through Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to the north, ultimately defeating France within six weeks.
—Ivan Krastev, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
President Emeritus at Orange Coast College, Grant is in a class by himself, having sailed or rowed enough times to have circumvented the world more than once.
—Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
In Washington, the president believes that might makes right, that the courts are simply speed bumps, not stop signs — that democracy is a nuisance to be circumvented.
—Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
What happened this weekend circumvented all of that.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
The defense also argued that the decision to seek the death penalty was political and circumvented the federal government's protocols.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2026
The legislation targeting transgender Kansans was adopted after a series of remarkable procedural maneuvers that circumvented all public input on key provisions of the bill, including a ban on multi-occupancy unisex restrooms and other private spaces.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Bill Clinton circumvented political accountability by pardoning the financier Marc Rich, the ex-husband of an influential Democratic donor, on the last day of his presidency.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In 1940, Germany circumvented the Maginot Line by invading through Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to the north, ultimately defeating France within six weeks.
—Ivan Krastev, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
President Emeritus at Orange Coast College, Grant is in a class by himself, having sailed or rowed enough times to have circumvented the world more than once.
—Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
In Washington, the president believes that might makes right, that the courts are simply speed bumps, not stop signs — that democracy is a nuisance to be circumvented.
—Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
What happened this weekend circumvented all of that.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvented
Verb
-
As the only Eastern Conference team not to make a move at the deadline, the Heat bypassed that opportunity to address what likely will be two available roster vacancies the balance of the season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Dolphins ultimately bypassed the chance to draft All Pro receivers JaMarr Chase and Justin Jefferson several years ago.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While touring with Reba McEntire, Finney narrowly avoided a 1991 plane crash that killed eight band members of her band.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Most critics avoided taking a definitive stance on the RIFL Act itself, with some expressing neutrality in the debate.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In that same period, the total distance traversed by ships in the Arctic increased 111%.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The design is meant to reorient us, to take us on a trail walked not by humans but traversed and carved by elephants, a creature still misunderstood, vilified and hunted for its cataclysmic-like ability to reshape land, and sometimes communities.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Surprisingly, among the more than 1,000 recipes published in the past 25 years of columns and cookbooks, a true, crisp and delicious almond cookie recipe had evaded me until now.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
After the fall of Tripoli, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi evaded capture for several months before being detained in November 2011 by a militia in the western Libyan city of Zintan.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Yet up and down the trunk, the tree was circled with new feathery foliage, vibrantly green and healthy.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Which neighborhood is being circled by ICE, which neighbor is being yanked from their house and needs observers documenting ASAP!—
Angela Pelster,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
So, the fact that the Illinois fireworks ban is roundly ignored by Illinoisans is not a surprise to anyone, as the night skies prove on Independence Day.—
Brad Weisenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Ackerly says the lesson is simple but often ignored.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its head doesn’t resemble the shape of a skull, like most other humanoids, but instead a cylinder with a flat face encircled by a ring of light.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Within moments, a small crowd of counter-protesters encircled him.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That season’s squad, which had gone to the NIT three straight years, escaped the non-conference schedule with a record of 9-2.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The rescue came about after Jordan Turpin — who was 17 at the time — escaped from the home and told authorities about their captivity and abuse.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvented. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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