1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
don't try to duck your commitment to spending Thanksgiving with your family by claiming you have to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in person
a member of the human race
her coworkers regard her as something of an odd duck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of duck
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Aptly, people ducked in, stayed for a few minutes, and exited noticeably calmer.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
During the dinner, which featured China's national dish, Beijing roast duck, as well as beef ribs, Musk was spotted taking selfies, rolling his eyes and making other faces.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for duck
Verb
Emily tried to nudge her daughter closer, but Henley pivoted and ducked behind her legs.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Aptly, people ducked in, stayed for a few minutes, and exited noticeably calmer.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
Noun
The injured duckling was treated at a veterinary clinic while the other ducklings escaped the area with the mother duck.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
During the dinner, which featured China's national dish, Beijing roast duck, as well as beef ribs, Musk was spotted taking selfies, rolling his eyes and making other faces.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
Verb
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The problem is, when your side lack intensity, aggression and cohesion, those traps are easy to spot and avoid.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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October 23 – November 21 The real conversation is probably the one everyone has been avoiding.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the game on a nifty backhand after weaving through Montreal’s zone.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Sarah George is the pastry chef at The Palmerston—a beloved Edinburgh restaurant—who seamlessly weaves whisky into classic recipes.—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Others are dipping into savings, taking on side gigs or cutting essentials to offset expenses.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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This might look like doing lunges while taking a work break or chair dips while dinner is cooking.—
Malissa Rodenburg,
Health,
15 May 2026
Noun
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At least one person was killed by a gunman at the Islamic Center of San Diego today, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
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Clark attended an elementary and a middle school in person at the district, but following the pandemic his family enrolled him online schooling full time, Canning said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Deception is used to evade responsibility, manipulate a partner or conceal betrayal.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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My muscles on fire with tension, sleep evaded me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As for whether CenterWell’s commercial interests color its conclusions, Shetty doesn’t dodge the question.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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And while Dallas has dodged some bad weather opportunities in recent years, the luck could run out here.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The victim described, matter-of-factly, how her trafficker had cut up jalapeños and tossed them into a toilet before banging her head against the inside of the bowl and dunking it into the water.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Detroit immediately went on a 6-0 run with three straight Jalen Duren dunks off Cade Cunningham assists and never looked back.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Here was a man who had conquered eight halls of fame, had traveled the world many times over, and nothing compared to his home.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
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And with the loss, the Dodgers (29-19) fell half a game back of the Padres (29-18), after squandering two separate opportunities with speedy Hyeseong Kim standing on third base with two out, and stranding men on first and second in the ninth.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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