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)
Examples of sidestep in a Sentence
Verb
She sidestepped the reporter's question.
They're sidestepping the real issue.
Recent Examples on the Web
William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
But the Russian air force could sidestep the jamming by reprogramming their radars to operate at slightly different frequencies.
—David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 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
Avi Melamed, a Middle East analyst, told Newsweek that the plan—which proposes an interim, Palestinian-run administrative authority in Gaza; includes the training of Palestinian security forces; and calls for the involvement of international peacekeeping—sidesteps the issue of Hamas' disarmament.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
But the Russian air force could sidestep the jamming by reprogramming their radars to operate at slightly different frequencies.
—David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 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
Cite this Entry
“Sidestep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidestep. Accessed 14 Mar. 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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