1
as in bypassed
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
employees who try to circumvent the company's dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in avoided
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traversed
to travel completely around
most casual joggers will be able to circumvent the reservoir without too much of a strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumvented
The leak caused consternation from department brass, Moers alleged, who were not happy that his commission had circumvented proper channels to receive emergency funding.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
David Anders is the Wachtell Lipton attorney leading the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league’s salary cap rules to compensate Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Nepal’s scores of community radio stations in 2005 circumvented an order from King Gyanendra prohibiting anything but music on the airwaves by singing the news in more than 20 languages.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Later interventions, like X letting users block Grok from editing their photos, are also easily circumvented.
—Robert Hart, The Verge, 15 Apr. 2026
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
The Legislature has circumvented the ban by making K-12 vouchers available to students instead of funding private schools directly.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
But Bateman circumvented authorities by often marrying the mothers of his young wives.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Nessel's office alleges that Kalshi has circumvented Michigan's gambling laws by offering users to trade contracts based on whether specific events will happen, acting and operating like a gambling platform and should be subject to the same state laws that other online gaming apps are.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
David Anders is the Wachtell Lipton attorney leading the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league’s salary cap rules to compensate Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Nepal’s scores of community radio stations in 2005 circumvented an order from King Gyanendra prohibiting anything but music on the airwaves by singing the news in more than 20 languages.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Later interventions, like X letting users block Grok from editing their photos, are also easily circumvented.
—Robert Hart, The Verge, 15 Apr. 2026
The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
The Legislature has circumvented the ban by making K-12 vouchers available to students instead of funding private schools directly.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
But Bateman circumvented authorities by often marrying the mothers of his young wives.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Nessel's office alleges that Kalshi has circumvented Michigan's gambling laws by offering users to trade contracts based on whether specific events will happen, acting and operating like a gambling platform and should be subject to the same state laws that other online gaming apps are.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumvented
Verb
-
Digital rights management is similarly criticized for giving rights holders too much power to control information by creating digital locks that cannot legally be bypassed.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mythos’s unexpected sandbox breakout—which bypassed its own security guardrails—has surprised many security researchers and sparked vital discussions.—
Kemba Walden,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Given the importance of preserving relations with the FCC, which has a say over a range of local station matters and must approve any mergers involving the transfer of broadcast licenses, LeGeyt has deliberately avoided a direct clash with his Washington counterpart.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In Ukraine, Harry stepped into territory traditionally avoided by the royals.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once traversed by Genghis Khan, this is a focal point of Scythian-Turkic culture, whose arid slopes somehow sustain nomadic life that demands constant attentiveness to the environment.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But hardly any ships have traversed the strait since the war began in late February.—
Justin Fishel,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Garcia sprinted off exiting through a side entrance and evaded authorities until cops nabbed him on March 25, 2026.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Gutiérrez worries that Trump’s eagerness for a trophy that has evaded 12 Democratic and Republican presidents could get the better of him.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Republicans circled back on the two-pronged plan to fund immigration agencies through reconciliation and the rest of DHS through the traditional appropriations process.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Outside the hotel, members of the National Guard and other authorities flooded the area as helicopters circled overhead.—
Collin Binkley,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance's survey shows younger patients' symptoms often go ignored, delaying diagnosis and treatment.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Other Bennet Sister BritBox, May 6 Hadlow’s continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice imagines the fortunes of Mary Bennet, aka the boring (though not entirely ignored) one.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The country's National News Agency reported airstrikes and artillery shelling throughout southern Lebanon on Wednesday, including near Bint Jbeil, where Israeli forces have encircled Hezbollah fighters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The country’s National News Agency reported airstrikes and artillery shelling throughout southern Lebanon on Wednesday, include near Bint Jbeil, where Israeli forces have encircled fighters with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.—
Samy Magdy,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nearly a year after 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans jail through a hole in the wall, a special grand jury has indicted the local sheriff on criminal corruption and obstruction charges in connection with the biggest jailbreak in recent American history.—
Greg Hilburn,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Authorities said the 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in the early morning hours after climbing through a hole behind a toilet.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumvented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumvented. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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