1
as in circumvents
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
the eager enlistee sidestepped the regulations by lying about his age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sidesteps
Second, structure it in familiar legal language so that supervisors recognize it as a security or other traditional instrument, and only then represent it in tokens; this approach sidesteps unproductive security-versus-utility debates while ensuring that investor protections remain intact.
—
Juan Arroyo, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite the glossy subject matter, Winocour neatly sidesteps clichés, instead searching for quiet moments that give the story emotional resonance.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Tatum sidesteps a question about whether joining Marvel now — at a moment when many industry observers think the brand is past its peak — made sense.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
This is mission creep in action—by breaking the police state’s hostile takeover of the country and our Constitution into a series off incremental moves, the administration sidesteps the broad public backlash that a single, sweeping declaration of martial law would provoke.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
However, critics argue that the project sidesteps the real crisis facing New York City.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Perhaps not, but King of the Hill sidesteps this line of inquiry by presenting the Aramco base, as seen in flashback later in the episode, as what Hank imagines life to be like in the ’50s.
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025
Juan Arroyo, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite the glossy subject matter, Winocour neatly sidesteps clichés, instead searching for quiet moments that give the story emotional resonance.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Tatum sidesteps a question about whether joining Marvel now — at a moment when many industry observers think the brand is past its peak — made sense.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
This is mission creep in action—by breaking the police state’s hostile takeover of the country and our Constitution into a series off incremental moves, the administration sidesteps the broad public backlash that a single, sweeping declaration of martial law would provoke.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
However, critics argue that the project sidesteps the real crisis facing New York City.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Perhaps not, but King of the Hill sidesteps this line of inquiry by presenting the Aramco base, as seen in flashback later in the episode, as what Hank imagines life to be like in the ’50s.
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidesteps
Verb
-
But the Free Speech Coalition said companies might still be liable if a user in a state requiring age verification circumvents geographic targeting with a VPN.—
Jasmine Mithani,
Them.,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Unfortunately, this entire process circumvents the necessary regulatory and congressional oversight processes.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Despite its dark themes, El Dentista also weaves in romance through Nolasco's relationship with Sofía, a brilliant chemist played by Camila Sodi.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Our brains are one part of an entire nervous system that weaves throughout our bodies.—
Kevin Dickinson,
Big Think,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Despite his confrontational reputation, Biglari notably avoids media coverage and has not in recent years participated in interviews.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Bader’s formulation avoids this problem by using ascorbyl glucoside, a water-soluble derivative that stays intact in the bottle, then converts into active Vitamin C once absorbed.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ahmed stars as Ash, an anonymous broker who dodges that Orwellian surveillance to help sketchy companies and whistleblowers come to an agreement.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
The iRobot Roomba Essential quietly cleans the floors, dodges furniture like it’s lived here forever, and empties itself when it’s done.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With the help of resourceful Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente), Bourne evades capture from the CIA — namely data analyst Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) and Deputy Director Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) — while untangling his involvement in the deadly Operation Treadstone.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Renewed sanctions may not deal much of an economic blow to Iran, especially if China evades them, but can be a potent political tool to stir fears of vulnerability and future military action, a Washington Institute expert argued.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The way a Newfoundland dog carefully ducks his head to avoid getting bumped by a car trunk has captured hearts across the internet.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Publishizer’s business model bypasses the traditional route to commercial publishing, in which authors must first win an agent, who then approaches large commercial publishers.—
Elaine Pofeldt,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, the command silently downloads Shamos, bypasses macOS Gatekeeper protections, and installs the malware.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For most companies and CEOs, the metrics would be preposterously out of reach — among them are an eight-fold increase in market valuation and a 30-fold increase in earnings — but that ignores Musk’s ability to marshal investor enthusiasm and pull off new product launches.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
But this framing ignores reality.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidesteps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidesteps. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share