as in sidestepping
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1
as in circumventing
to avoid by going around
we can bypass the traffic jam if we take this other road
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2
as in ignoring
to fail to give proper attention to
a serious news event that was bypassed by the mainstream media so that they could concentrate on celebrity gossip
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3
as in avoiding
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
you can bypass the graduation requirements if you do enough extra credit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bypassing
IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026
The facility, intended as the largest addition to the White House since the Oval Office, has sparked debate among historians, preservationists, commentators, and the public due to its demolition of the historic East Wing and the bypassing of standard preservation reviews.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Some strains are now capable of identifying and bypassing backups, targeting critical systems first and spreading laterally across devices and networks.
—Ro'ee Margalit, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In November 2024, Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion calling for the city to explore bypassing LAHSA and contracting directly with service providers, citing concerns about fragmentation and accountability.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
The stadium will instead likely rely on a constellation of local and state administrative tools, bypassing voter approval at the ballot box.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Thailand will press ahead with a long-standing plan to link the Indian and Pacific oceans, bypassing the Malacca Strait, after tensions over the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the strategic value of key shipping routes, a senior minister said.
—Anuchit Nguyen, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
Officers quickly identified inconsistencies in the caller’s story, including false claims about disabling airport surveillance and bypassing security that does not exist at the facility, Sanschagrin said.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
The bill drew rare bipartisan support, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in voting for passage, bypassing GOP leadership using a discharge petition procedure.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Subway trains resumed stopping at the station in the afternoon after bypassing it for hours, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s website.
—Julie Walker, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The stabbings impacted just the subway portion of Grand Central, with some trains temporarily bypassing the station, according to Bill Amarosa, executive vice president of subways at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
Assistive listening studies report that bypassing room acoustics and delivering audio directly can improve signal‑to‑noise ratios by 15–20 dB, making announcements comprehensible and lectures clearer [8].
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026
The facility, intended as the largest addition to the White House since the Oval Office, has sparked debate among historians, preservationists, commentators, and the public due to its demolition of the historic East Wing and the bypassing of standard preservation reviews.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Some strains are now capable of identifying and bypassing backups, targeting critical systems first and spreading laterally across devices and networks.
—Ro'ee Margalit, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Under former President Jacob Zuma’s administration, a 9,600 MW plan tied to Russia’s Rosatom was struck down by the courts for bypassing parliamentary oversight.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In November 2024, Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion calling for the city to explore bypassing LAHSA and contracting directly with service providers, citing concerns about fragmentation and accountability.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
The stadium will instead likely rely on a constellation of local and state administrative tools, bypassing voter approval at the ballot box.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Thailand will press ahead with a long-standing plan to link the Indian and Pacific oceans, bypassing the Malacca Strait, after tensions over the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the strategic value of key shipping routes, a senior minister said.
—Anuchit Nguyen, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
Officers quickly identified inconsistencies in the caller’s story, including false claims about disabling airport surveillance and bypassing security that does not exist at the facility, Sanschagrin said.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
The bill drew rare bipartisan support, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in voting for passage, bypassing GOP leadership using a discharge petition procedure.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Subway trains resumed stopping at the station in the afternoon after bypassing it for hours, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s website.
—Julie Walker, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The stabbings impacted just the subway portion of Grand Central, with some trains temporarily bypassing the station, according to Bill Amarosa, executive vice president of subways at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bypassing
Noun
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One was the very clear sidestepping of Palestinian sovereignty, and the second was the issue of Iran.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The arrangement could be considered circumventing the NBA salary cap, a serious violation of league rules.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Critics contend prediction markets are circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors accused the trust, which convinced a federal district judge to order a temporary pause in construction, of ignoring claims that the project is needed to bolster national security.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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But three days after withdrawing the lawsuit, Florida sued CMS for a third time, accusing the federal agency of ignoring the state’s public records request related to CMS’ approval of the KidCare expansion.—
Daniel Chang,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Holland's not quite sure why so many in his generation are avoiding alcohol.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
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Nia has no interest at all in talking to them or even a strategy for avoiding them.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Amid a strange Clippers season and an ongoing investigation into cap-circumvention allegations, the 34-year-old Leonard has put together arguably his finest season as a Clippers player.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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Clippers investigation Silver said he has been told that the Los Angeles Clippers have been cooperative with the external investigation into their possible circumvention of the salary cap through a suspicious endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with a now-bankrupt company.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bank wants her descendants to stop forgetting it.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Kudrow, who starred as the free-spirited Phoebe Buffay, said the writers reprimanded the cast for forgetting lines and spent their off-hours fantasizing about her female co-stars.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jones faces charges for property theft, money laundering and evading arrest, the release stated.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
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Poole was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit on May 31, 2024, after spending months evading law enforcement.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s evidenced by the GOP’s skirting of the issue.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Dominator 3, at its base a Ford F-350, features an armored shell and skirting designed to keep winds from lifting the vehicle; strong windows, equipment for tracking weather data and a hydraulic spike system used to anchor the vehicle to the ground.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bypassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bypassing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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