1
as in avoided
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ducked
The nurse told investigators Samuelson saved his life, and according to court documents, surveillance video also shows that immediately after the nurse ducked into the hallway to get away from Grafton, Samuelson stopped moving and appeared motionless.
—
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 May 2026
So the team and I immediately dropped to the ground, ducked and covered.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
The audio journalism winner was the staff of the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, which investigated how the Los Angeles Clippers basketball organization seemingly ducked the NBA salary cap rule by paying its star forward, Kawhi Leonard, extra money via an endorsement deal.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 4 May 2026
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
When shots were first fired on the floor above the ballroom, many guests ducked for cover under their tables.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026
When shots were fired, hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover inside the ballroom before being evacuated, and the event was subsequently postponed.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The man filmed casually eating a salad as everyone else ducked for cover after shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is speaking out.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 May 2026
So the team and I immediately dropped to the ground, ducked and covered.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
The audio journalism winner was the staff of the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, which investigated how the Los Angeles Clippers basketball organization seemingly ducked the NBA salary cap rule by paying its star forward, Kawhi Leonard, extra money via an endorsement deal.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 4 May 2026
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
When shots were first fired on the floor above the ballroom, many guests ducked for cover under their tables.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026
When shots were fired, hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover inside the ballroom before being evacuated, and the event was subsequently postponed.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The man filmed casually eating a salad as everyone else ducked for cover after shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is speaking out.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducked
Verb
-
But in Brazil, the main terrestrial broadcaster, Globo, has avoided advertising.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Carter Jensen led off the game with a home run, and John Rave, Lane Thomas and Michael Massey also went deep as the Royals avoided a three-game sweep in Washington.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
By making the obvious choice of waiting until a new app is as good or better than the current app before killing the app’s predecessor, AcuRite may have dodged a bullet.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
11 June 2026
-
Investors may have dodged the most significant bullet on June 5, when Standard & Poor’s opted not to change its index-listing rules for any of its market indices.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Guest comedy actor dipped to 88 from 97, while guest comedy actress rose to 82 from 74.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
The actor also dipped his toes in theater, most notably playing Rapunzel’s Prince in the Broadway production of Into the Woods.—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Minions have now evaded Wendy's.—
Bianca Harris,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Despite being a major 20th-century modernist, Galentz’s canvases have long-evaded definitive categorization.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Five months after that meeting, Rodríguez has indeed kept her political power with the backing of Washington, which benefits from the supply of Venezuelan oil now that it is immersed in a military campaign in the Middle East, ahead of November midterm elections.—
Alfredo Meza,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Active travelers who want to spend time immersed in nature will find great hiking trails, too.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Kansas City police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old man suspected of instigating a string of shootings Tuesday night, who has now escaped two standoffs with law enforcement.—
Ilana Arougheti
June 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Over the course of a 60-yard run, Maradona danced past opponents, escaped challenges and left English defenders helpless before beating the goalkeeper with a clinical finish.—
Cesar R. Torres,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Then in September, floods drowned islanders living in Clarendon and submerged what was left of the banana harvest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
Two former Wheaton College football players drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan in western Michigan over the weekend.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ducked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducked. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
