1
as in to circumvent
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sidestep
Oz notably sidestepped questions from senators about Republican plans to cut Medicaid.
—
Dan Gorenstein, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Trump sidestepped a question over whether his administration violated a court order while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Twin Cities, 17 Mar. 2025
Nine Senate Democrats—and Independent Angus King of Maine who caucuses with them—joined all but one Senate Republican on Friday to sidestep a government shutdown.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
By the time the debt matures, the counterparty would settle in bitcoin—sidestepping the usual route of placing giant buy orders on public markets.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Dan Gorenstein, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Trump sidestepped a question over whether his administration violated a court order while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Twin Cities, 17 Mar. 2025
Nine Senate Democrats—and Independent Angus King of Maine who caucuses with them—joined all but one Senate Republican on Friday to sidestep a government shutdown.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
By the time the debt matures, the counterparty would settle in bitcoin—sidestepping the usual route of placing giant buy orders on public markets.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidestep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestep
Verb
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In August, de Moraes increased the financial penalties and implemented a nationwide ban on X. Musk briefly circumvented the ban through Starlink, which provides internet service to many Brazilians, but he was evidently rattled.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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European companies might circumvent President Donald Trump's anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program, a legal expert has told Newsweek.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The showcase is a tribute to the work of 23 Polish designers and how their storytelling weaves into Poland’s design culture.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2025
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The trail weaves through the coastal waters of Lee County from the Pine Island Sound to Estero Bay, up the Caloosahatchee River and through its tributaries.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In another legend, the monk was said to have cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep during his meditation, one explanation for the doll’s wide-eyed stare.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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Facing the Marlins for the second time in a week, the Mets (7-3) avoided facing ace Sandy Alcantara, with the 2022 Cy Young Award winner having been added to the paternity list earlier in the day.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Over at the station, with 25 minutes until Spencer’s train arrives, a whole bunch of Whitfield’s men enter the waiting are; Jake ducks his head and sneaks outside to let the sheriff know they’re greatly outnumbered.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
6 Apr. 2025
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Catch up quick: The former heart surgeon and TV talk show host ducked questions about possible Medicaid cuts and how DOGE could affect the big health programs during a relatively smooth confirmation hearing at Senate Finance last month.—
Victoria Knight,
Axios,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The group has claimed dozens of strikes against Israel throughout the war in Gaza, some of which have managed to evade the country's state-of-the-art air defense systems.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
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Overtourism is to blame That year, a railway company also launched a probe against four popular YouTubers over their stunt to evade fares on public transport, according to local media.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Dems dodge on calling Tesla attacks acts of ‘domestic terrorism’ After months of slamming Elon Musk as a threat, Democrats are refusing to say whether their inflammatory rhetoric is to blame for the attacks against Tesla owners and dealers across the country.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Thailand seems to be somewhere in the middle, with staff expected to serve guests’ every whim and dodge some gunfire here and there.—
Eddie Mouradian,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued the first waiver of the administration to speed President Trump’s border wall, bypassing environmental regulations to aid construction.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
8 Apr. 2025
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Luna, a cosponsor of the bill, moved to bypass leadership and launched a discharge petition, a procedural move that allows a measure to move forward without the speaker's approval, to force a vote on it.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sidestep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidestep. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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