side·step
ˈsīd-ˌstep 
sidestepped; sidestepping; sidesteps
2
: to move out of the way of : avoid
sidestep a blow
sidestepper
noun
1
: a step aside (as in boxing to avoid a blow)
2
: a step taken sideways (as when climbing on skis)
Synonyms
Examples of sidestep in a Sentence
Verb
She sidestepped the reporter's question.
They're sidestepping the real issue.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Feb. 2025
Powell largely sidestepped questions about the potential effects of additional tariffs proposed by Trump on inflation and the Federal Reserve's key interest rate, which currently stands at about 4.3 percent, down from a two-decade high of 5.3 percent last year.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Jianqing Chen, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2025
Sonnenfeld cited Harley-Davidson’s decision to shift some of its production from the U.S. to a factory in Thailand in 2019 in order to side step taxes imposed by the European Union in retaliation for Trump’s hiked tariffs on steel and aluminum.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sidestep 
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Verb
But before Lamar and Jackson extrapolate that discography tension for a larger commentary on being Black in America, Lamar momentarily sidesteps the game metaphor in the set design, opting to begin rapping an extended snippet of an unreleased GNX track.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Feb. 2025
Powell largely sidestepped questions about the potential effects of additional tariffs proposed by Trump on inflation and the Federal Reserve's key interest rate, which currently stands at about 4.3 percent, down from a two-decade high of 5.3 percent last year.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
Will TikTok refugees leave once their enthusiasm fades, or will regulators from either side step in?
—Jianqing Chen, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2025
Sonnenfeld cited Harley-Davidson’s decision to shift some of its production from the U.S. to a factory in Thailand in 2019 in order to side step taxes imposed by the European Union in retaliation for Trump’s hiked tariffs on steel and aluminum.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sidestep
Dictionary Entries Near sidestep
Cite this Entry
“Sidestep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidestep. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sidestep
verb
side·step
-ˌstep
1
: to take a step to the side
2
: to avoid by a step to the side
sidestep a blow
3
: to avoid answering or dealing with
sidestep a question
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