1
as in bypasses
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 avoids
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traverses
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 circumvents
Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
In Fraenkel’s account, an authoritarian system can preserve a normative state—courts, procedures, legality—while simultaneously constructing a prerogative state that overrides or circumvents those constraints in the name of necessity, emergency, or national survival.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Public universities oppose bill Both the UC and Cal State say the latest bill circumvents the 2021 law that allows community colleges to develop bachelor’s programs annually as long as the degrees do not duplicate existing programs at the two university systems.
—Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
California’s redistricting measure temporarily circumvents the independent system previously used to draw congressional maps in an effort to combat Texas Republicans’ own redistricting move that could net the GOP up to five additional House seats in the next midterms.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
This gambit circumvents the notorious way that measurements destroy quantumness.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
But the Free Speech Coalition said companies might still be liable if a user in a state requiring age verification circumvents geographic targeting with a VPN.
—Jasmine Mithani, Them., 3 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, this entire process circumvents the necessary regulatory and congressional oversight processes.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The Skydweller’s self-powering design circumvents this logistical constraint.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
In Fraenkel’s account, an authoritarian system can preserve a normative state—courts, procedures, legality—while simultaneously constructing a prerogative state that overrides or circumvents those constraints in the name of necessity, emergency, or national survival.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Public universities oppose bill Both the UC and Cal State say the latest bill circumvents the 2021 law that allows community colleges to develop bachelor’s programs annually as long as the degrees do not duplicate existing programs at the two university systems.
—Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
California’s redistricting measure temporarily circumvents the independent system previously used to draw congressional maps in an effort to combat Texas Republicans’ own redistricting move that could net the GOP up to five additional House seats in the next midterms.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
This gambit circumvents the notorious way that measurements destroy quantumness.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025
But the Free Speech Coalition said companies might still be liable if a user in a state requiring age verification circumvents geographic targeting with a VPN.
—Jasmine Mithani, Them., 3 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, this entire process circumvents the necessary regulatory and congressional oversight processes.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The Skydweller’s self-powering design circumvents this logistical constraint.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvents
Verb
-
In this near-field regime, the light bypasses the diffraction limit and probes nanoscale features.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Garcia’s finest new dishes underscore his talent for complexity that bypasses showiness.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The message also avoids links on purpose.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
To the Kremlin’s frustration, the plan also avoids any provision that would force Ukraine to give up territory to the Russians.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The film’s story spans thousands of years and traverses multiple continents, with locations ranging from Antarctica to Africa to the titular Indian city.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Published in 1994, The Riders follows Scully, an Australian man who traverses Europe, alongside his young daughter Billie, in search of the wife that abandoned them.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
-
In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As the camera circles the car, two other portions of Kennedy’s speech play in the background.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once a frame is captured, the chip ignores the full image and registers only moving objects.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
College play can now pay a lot more and prove much more marketable, given that media largely ignores the minor leagues.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The trail encircles a large, ADA-accessible playground and also provides views of the South Bend skyline.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Midwest Living,
4 Jan. 2026
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Many travelers choose to explore the area via the Ring of Kerry, the scenic drive that encircles the peninsula.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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When cooked straight from frozen, that fractured surface dries quickly as moisture turns to steam and escapes before the interior fully softens.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
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In Austin, February is practically a monthlong ode to friendship, from brunches where the mimosas are mandatory to rooftop escapes, DIY adventures and dessert experiments that make staying in feel just as celebratory.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvents. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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