1
as in circumvented
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
the eager enlistee sidestepped the regulations by lying about his age
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Recent Examples of sidestepped
And Trump’s past comments aren’t the only embarrassment being sidestepped.
—
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
By settling the case, Anthropic has sidestepped an existential risk to its business.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Deaton sidestepped that argument on Thursday and touted the map as a better version of the state’s current congressional districts, which were approved in 2022.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Trump has sidestepped norms on central bank independence to openly criticize and threaten its top policymakers over their monetary policy decisions.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Witkoff sidestepped a direct question about the veracity of reporting suggesting Putin agreed to end the war if Ukraine ceded the entire Donbas region to Russia, including territory not currently held by Russia.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025
At Thursday’s hearing, neither SpaceX nor US Space Force representatives showed up, likely because the military sidestepped the commission by classifying the Falcon 9 launches as a federal activity.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Wise sidestepped a question about whether Campbell’s arm length could be a detriment.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
OceanGate consistently sidestepped safety concerns in a bid to maximize profits, the investigation found.
—Melissa Chan, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2025
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
By settling the case, Anthropic has sidestepped an existential risk to its business.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Deaton sidestepped that argument on Thursday and touted the map as a better version of the state’s current congressional districts, which were approved in 2022.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Trump has sidestepped norms on central bank independence to openly criticize and threaten its top policymakers over their monetary policy decisions.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Witkoff sidestepped a direct question about the veracity of reporting suggesting Putin agreed to end the war if Ukraine ceded the entire Donbas region to Russia, including territory not currently held by Russia.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025
At Thursday’s hearing, neither SpaceX nor US Space Force representatives showed up, likely because the military sidestepped the commission by classifying the Falcon 9 launches as a federal activity.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Wise sidestepped a question about whether Campbell’s arm length could be a detriment.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
OceanGate consistently sidestepped safety concerns in a bid to maximize profits, the investigation found.
—Melissa Chan, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped
Verb
-
The league could void the Clippers-Leonard contract and order the forfeiture of first-round picks, a penalty experienced by the Minnesota Timberwolves when they were found to have circumvented the cap to sign Joe Smith.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Had to wrap their minds around the bombshell from podcaster/investigative reporter Pablo Torre laying out allegations that team owner Steve Ballmer might have circumvented NBA salary cap rules by funding a $28 million no-show endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Videos circulating online showed the gruesome scene as Kirk slumped over, and people ducked to the ground before running away and huddling in nearby buildings.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Some instinctively ducked, covered their classmates or followed teachers’ directions.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Since taking office, Kennedy has mostly avoided even rhetorically linking specific environmental exposures to health concerns.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, Iryna’s closest Ukrainian relatives have largely avoided the media since her death, due perhaps in part to a language barrier, but mainly because this combination of fresh horror and grief is too intense.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Milwaukee, Kellner said that around 33% of bus riders have evaded paying fares in 2025 but that the agency has identified a few cost-neutral strategies targeted at reducing fare evasion down to 30% by September 2026, the same rate of evasion busses saw in 2024.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The big plays evaded the Eagles both through the air and on the ground.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That means Colorado officially dodged baseball infamy.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
20 Sep. 2025
-
While on the job in May 2015, Emenheiser dodged a bullet while responding to a call for a man with a weapon who had allegedly forced his way into a woman's home.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israeli fighter jets launched ballistic missiles from the Red Sea to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9, in a move that bypassed regional air defenses and avoided crossing into Middle Eastern airspace.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
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Kennedy bypassed or ignored scientific experts Debra Houry, the CDC’s former chief medical officer, testified that Kennedy has bypassed or ignored scientific experts.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The evening was slightly chaotic and quickly unsynchronized as the first dinner group, which included Sunisa Lee, Fabolous and more, ignored initial invitations to sit in lieu of sunset views of the East River from the 63rd floor balcony.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Mendoza ignored what her contract said.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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