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
The project’s developers sidestepped the city’s 30-foot coastal height limit approved by voters in 1972 through a state density bonus law to encourage affordable housing that apparently overrides local ordinances.
—
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
When asked if Richardson, who is 8-7 as a starter, will challenge Leonard for the QB2 role if he’s not traded, Dodds sidestepped the question.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 11 May 2026
When Republican lawmakers in 2016 sidestepped Missouri’s Democratic governor and enacted a sweeping firearms law, the move solidified the state as a gun rights haven.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
School districts nationwide, including one in Northern California, have issued layoff notices to mental health workers after the Education Department sidestepped a court order protecting federal grant funding.
—Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Presidents of both parties have often sidestepped its requirements, while Congress has struggled to muster the unity or political will to compel compliance.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
On the House floor, Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, sidestepped specifics about what factors went into the map.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
When asked about what is the most difficult part of outfitting a customer with an adaptive bike, Hal Honeyman sidestepped the entire mechanical issue and immediately cited funding instead.
—David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Kennedy largely sidestepped the questions.
—Will Stone, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
When asked if Richardson, who is 8-7 as a starter, will challenge Leonard for the QB2 role if he’s not traded, Dodds sidestepped the question.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 11 May 2026
When Republican lawmakers in 2016 sidestepped Missouri’s Democratic governor and enacted a sweeping firearms law, the move solidified the state as a gun rights haven.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
School districts nationwide, including one in Northern California, have issued layoff notices to mental health workers after the Education Department sidestepped a court order protecting federal grant funding.
—Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Presidents of both parties have often sidestepped its requirements, while Congress has struggled to muster the unity or political will to compel compliance.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
On the House floor, Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, sidestepped specifics about what factors went into the map.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
When asked about what is the most difficult part of outfitting a customer with an adaptive bike, Hal Honeyman sidestepped the entire mechanical issue and immediately cited funding instead.
—David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Kennedy largely sidestepped the questions.
—Will Stone, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestepped
Verb
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The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
-
Some issues could have been avoided by carefully reading MEDVi’s site.—
Nicole Hernandez,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
The Tigers avoided disaster, at least temporarily, by stranding three and allowing just one run in the inning.—
Jace Denison,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
My muscles on fire with tension, sleep evaded me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Aircraft purchases were among the promises that China evaded then.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Hynes dodged a question about Kaprizov after the game.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
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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Owner Dawn Welch has run it for decades, surviving a fire, a new interstate that bypassed the town, and everything else the highway has thrown at it.—
Heide Brandes,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 May 2026
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The front two are easily bypassed, allowing Pedri to consistently get on the ball in pockets of space.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The state dashboard and local improvement plans Brown touted are singled out for criticism in the report, essentially validating concerns that reformers had voiced but were ignored.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
In an April statement, the union said the company ignored its March 18 letter and several requests by phone, asking to lift the lockout and allow members to return to work while negotiations continue.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidestepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestepped. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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