as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
the governor's repeated dodging of tough questions at the press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in circumventing
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
always trying to dodge the landlord's rule prohibiting pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
dodged the horde of paparazzi by leaving through the service entrance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dodging
Maria Torres, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
All combat is close combat, made harder by the fact that running and dodging depletes Shimizu’s stamina quite quickly, leaving her too exhausted to run through maze-like streets and alleyways, or fight off whatever horrible thing is waiting around the next corner.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
However, the court would not expand the receivership to take over any future LLCs the Verrichias might form ― at least not yet, although the court indicated a willingness to revisit the issue should the Verrichias dodging of their creditor continue.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2026
The tanker has been subject to European Union sanctions since October due to its role in transporting sanctions-dodging Russian oil exports, according to the Open Sanctions website.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
In court filings and dealings with the Justice Department, Ver had always denied dodging his tax bill intentionally — a key distinction between a criminal and civil tax violation — and claimed to have relied on the advice of accountants and tax attorneys.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
An earnest intention to test various options can quickly turn into a video game–esque challenge of dodging errant spritzes from overzealous salespeople.
—Alexis Berger, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
Until Thursday, the global soccer superstar had been equally adept at dodging defenders on the field and political leaders, especially those in his own country of Argentina.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
She was also slammed over how her department is spending the billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress and accused of dodging accountability.
—Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Early in the third period, depth forward Bastian found the game-tying goal, dodging Saros.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
Birbiglia keeps asking, and Fleming keeps dodging.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
Starter Seth Lugo pitched four strong innings, including artful dodging of traffic in the second, and the bullpen stranded seven Colombia base runners the rest of the way.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
All combat is close combat, made harder by the fact that running and dodging depletes Shimizu’s stamina quite quickly, leaving her too exhausted to run through maze-like streets and alleyways, or fight off whatever horrible thing is waiting around the next corner.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
However, the court would not expand the receivership to take over any future LLCs the Verrichias might form ― at least not yet, although the court indicated a willingness to revisit the issue should the Verrichias dodging of their creditor continue.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Wright is not the first attorney to accuse Brooks of dodging legal bills in a matter involving the Moore cousins.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2026
The tanker has been subject to European Union sanctions since October due to its role in transporting sanctions-dodging Russian oil exports, according to the Open Sanctions website.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
In court filings and dealings with the Justice Department, Ver had always denied dodging his tax bill intentionally — a key distinction between a criminal and civil tax violation — and claimed to have relied on the advice of accountants and tax attorneys.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
An earnest intention to test various options can quickly turn into a video game–esque challenge of dodging errant spritzes from overzealous salespeople.
—Alexis Berger, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
Until Thursday, the global soccer superstar had been equally adept at dodging defenders on the field and political leaders, especially those in his own country of Argentina.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
She was also slammed over how her department is spending the billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress and accused of dodging accountability.
—Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Early in the third period, depth forward Bastian found the game-tying goal, dodging Saros.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
Birbiglia keeps asking, and Fleming keeps dodging.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodging
Noun
-
The serene setting, where only the wind whispers through the pines, makes this remote ranch perfect for an unforgettable family escape.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
For Havana residents enduring frequent blackouts and shortages, a night of rumba and salsa offers an escape.—
Natalia Favre,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Investors ducking for cover in the rocky market are turning to low volatility funds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
-
As the sun falls, Johnny Leach steps out of his Brooklyn apartment and onto the wet street before ducking into the subway station.—
Jenna Thompson
March 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has remained open in his positioning toward Moscow, even declining on Sunday to blast it for circumventing his oil blockade on Cuba.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Houthi attack comes just as Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is now pumping oil at its full capacity of 7 million barrels a day, sending crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and circumventing the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s chances of avoiding the NBA’s play-in tournament are now very slim.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The loss was Orlando’s eighth in the past 10 games as the team continues to trend the opposite direction of avoiding the Play-In Tournament.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The marvel of the play, and of this keenly staged and performed production, is its emotional volatility, the quiver of truth behind the percolating dialogue of evasion or shaming accusation.—
Steven Winn,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The new security gates to curb fare evasion and improve safety (more than 80% of the crime at BART used to come from fare jumpers) were delayed for years due to budget inaction.—
Steve Glazer,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Foini village the Dio Dio Collective organizes chair-weaving workshops, part of efforts to document and revive the island's furniture-making heritage.—
Selina Denman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His sympathetic patter also gives Guirgis an opportunity to start weaving in the character’s politics.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to Basketball Reference’s playoff probabilities report, the Heat entered Wednesday with just a 9 percent chance of evading the play-in tourney.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Eric Lampkin-Scarborough, 19, was arrested for insufficient bonds related to a felony weapon charge and a misdemeanor evading arrest charge.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rear doors on police cars typically only open from the outside to prevent arrestees from escaping.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But Sasaki locked in to strike out José Ramírez and induce Kyle Manzardo to line out, escaping without further damage.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dodging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodging. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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