SIDESTEP Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

sidestep

verb

ˈsīd-ˌstep

Definition of sidestep

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to weave

to move suddenly aside or to and fro the startled spectator sidestepped away from the oncoming ball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sidestep In public appearances, Netanyahu sidestepped questions about whether Israel would investigate the incident alongside Riyadh officials. — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026 As rural communities across the United States wage intensifying battles to keep AI-computing data centers out of their backyards, some tech giants are mulling methods that could sidestep such local resentment — by sending the facilities to space. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 The president, who sat down with Time magazine for a 75-minute interview published Thursday, sidestepped multiple questions about Netanyahu’s reelection bid. — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Kenneth Walker backtracked five yards behind the line of scrimmage to sidestep a tackle, then reached the edge before breaking another, then accelerated downfield before breaking one more and, in the end, produced a 30-yard run. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sidestep

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidestep

Verb

Whether or not Hal was right to entice Zoe (upon whose shoulders the carnage ultimately falls), his decision to circumvent the Guardians’ chain of command is what ultimately leads to countless deaths and his imprisonment for reckless endangerment.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Fragmentation has allowed many powerful figures to get their message across by circumventing traditional media outlets whose questions many CEOs and politicians don’t want to answer.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of circumvent

Verb

The village's pedestrian-only strip weaves through small shops, restaurants, and boutiques, and there's a Naval Museum housed in a 19th-century captain’s mansion that highlights the island’s maritime history—and is worth a visit.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The Oilers didn’t have the same time and space to weave through traffic and choose their spots at will.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of weave

Verb

Rates actually continued to increase after the Society of Surgical Oncology adopted the guidelines in 2016, even though patients who received the biopsy were not more likely to survive or avoid recurrence.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Clapp said the firm focuses on avoiding highly leveraged companies and floating-rate debt, instead favoring investments with dependable cash flows to support clients over the long term.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

During her October 2025 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly ducked questions on everything from the Epstein files to the decision to prosecute former FBI director James Comey.

— David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Malick Yalcouye uses his space just outside the box not to shoot but to draw Pedro Neto and Hato out before slipping a pass through to Gross, who has ducked in behind Palmer.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of duck

Verb

Yet Iran’s regime has developed sophisticated networks to combat and evade sanctions.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Young rolled to his right, evading Aidan Hutchinson’s pressure, and threw a perfect pass along the sideline in which McMillan stretched his arms and hauled in the catch using all 6-foot-4 of him, his toes to his fingertips.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of evade

Verb

Coding a malicious program that steals private data while dodging detection by antivirus tools is hard.

— Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
In the mid-70s, Stallone was a struggling actor, only landing gigs in shady erotic movies and dodging ever-piling bills, made even more pressing by the upcoming arrival of his first child.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of dodge

Verb

The priority status allows developers to bypass local regulatory plans, according to Soóki-Tóth.

— Lucy Handley, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
In particular, both Russia and Iran have repeatedly flagged Starlink as a major threat since it's been aiding Ukraine and helping local Iranians bypass internet censorship.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026