1
as in bypassing
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 avoiding
to avoid by going around
circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in circling
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 circumventing
The arrangement could be considered circumventing the NBA salary cap, a serious violation of league rules.
—
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
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
But in buying your data in bulk on the commercial market, the government is circumventing the Constitution, Supreme Court decisions and federal laws designed to protect your privacy from unwarranted government overreach.
—Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump also signed an executive order to pay other workers, circumventing Congress again.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Internet users have gotten used to circumventing the restrictions by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, even as the government has been actively blocking those, too.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Since the start of the war, cryptocurrency flowing into Iran has surged, in what experts say is a sign the government is trying to provide civilians with a financial lifeline while circumventing sanctions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026
Trump has remained open in his positioning toward Moscow, even declining on Sunday to blast it for circumventing his oil blockade on Cuba.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
The Houthi attack comes just as Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is now pumping oil at its full capacity of 7 million barrels a day, sending crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and circumventing the Strait of Hormuz.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
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
But in buying your data in bulk on the commercial market, the government is circumventing the Constitution, Supreme Court decisions and federal laws designed to protect your privacy from unwarranted government overreach.
—Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Trump also signed an executive order to pay other workers, circumventing Congress again.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Internet users have gotten used to circumventing the restrictions by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, even as the government has been actively blocking those, too.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Since the start of the war, cryptocurrency flowing into Iran has surged, in what experts say is a sign the government is trying to provide civilians with a financial lifeline while circumventing sanctions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026
Trump has remained open in his positioning toward Moscow, even declining on Sunday to blast it for circumventing his oil blockade on Cuba.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
The Houthi attack comes just as Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is now pumping oil at its full capacity of 7 million barrels a day, sending crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and circumventing the Strait of Hormuz.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumventing
Verb
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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
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
Verb
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Helicopters were circling over 30 Rockefeller Plaza, home of NBC News, ahead of Charles' arrival.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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All of it lands at a moment when Quinta do Lago inventory is tight, and buyers are still circling.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 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
-
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
Verb
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Experts feared that Asian economies — which imported 90% of the oil traversing through the Strait of Hormuz before the war — could be devastated by a prolonged disruption to Gulf crude production.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
And Just Like That, including designer clothing, Manhattan-traversing stilettos, kitschy furniture, and memorabilia from Big’s death.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 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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This is the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov, the fourth trip for Fincke, and the second for Yui, to the orbiting laboratory.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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In its time orbiting Earth, Hubble has shaped our understanding of the universe by observing the atmospheric composition of planets around other stars and even discovering dark energy – a mysterious force that causes the universe to expand.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Together, these mechanisms prevent the battery’s active materials from degrading or from escaping across the membrane, thereby ensuring long-term stability.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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Prosecutors have charged the 26-year-old Talley with murder, attempted murder and escaping from police, among other charges.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumventing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumventing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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