Don't dodge the issue, I want you to answer my question.
Source: tatoeba (328272)
Dodge
/dɒd͡ʒ/
Synonyms for "dodge" (410 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (82)
Noun(9 words)
about the bushactionad hoc measureambiguityansweraround the bushartartful dodgeartificeavoidavoidanceavoiding reactionback and fillbackpedalbackwaterbag of tricksballot-box stuffingbe stuck-upbeat aboutbeat around
Show 44 more words
beat around the bushbeg the questionbickerbilkblenchblindblinkblow hot and coldbluffbobboggleboseybuncocanardcardsharpingcarefully ignorecatchcavilcheatcheatingchicanechicanerychop logicchoplogicchousecircumventioncold shouldercold-shoulderconspiracycontrivancecountermovecoupcourse of actioncozenagecraftcringecurvecurve-ballcut a cornercut cornerscute trickdartdeceitdeceive
Verb(9 words)
avertedavertsavoid contactavoid legislative topicsavoidsbackpedaledcircumventcircumvent regulationscrouched
Strong matches (123)
deceptiondefense mechanismdemarchedesigndevicediddlediddlingdirty dealdirty trickdishonestydog itdouble-talkdraw backduckduck dutyefforteludeelusionelusivenessequivocate
Show 67 more words
equivocationescapeevadeevade the issueevasionevasive actionevasivenessexpedientfadefakementfall backfallbackfast dealfeintfencefetchficellefight shy offinessefishy transactionflamflimflamflinchforbearanceforestallingforestallmentfraudfraudulencefraudulencyfudgegambitgamegerrymanderingget out ofgetting aroundgimmickgoldbrickgoof offgooglygraftgriftgypgyp jointhang backhedgehem and hawhit the high spotshocus pocushocus-pocushold aloofhum and hawillicit businessimpositionimpostureimprovisationintriguejesuitismjibjinkjokerjugglejuggleryjury rigjury-rigjury-rigged expedientkeep aloofknavery
Noun(20 words)
Verb(15 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (205)
last expedientlast resortlast shiftlittle gameloopholemachinationmakeshiftmalingermaneuvermanoeuvremeansmeans to an endmeasuremince the truthmince wordsmissmovemove asidemystifyneutrality
Show 132 more words
nitpicknoninterventionnoninvolvementnot pull fairobscurepalterparrypasspass overpass over lightlypick nitspis allerplanplotploypretenceprevaricateprevaricationpreventionpull awaypull backpullbackpulloutpussyfootput offquailquibblequiddityquilletquipquirkquodlibetracketramprecoilred herringreelreel backrefrainingrefugeresortresourceretreatrunaroundrusescamscampschemescurvy trickshake upshake-upsheer offshiftshift offshirkshort-circuitshrinkshrink backshuffleshunshunningshunting offshyshy awayshy offsidestepsidesteppingsidetrackingskimskim overskim the surfaceskimpskip overskirtskulkslacksleightsleight of handsleight-of-hand trickslideslide out ofslightslipslip out ofslubber overslurslur oversneak out ofsoldiersolutionsplit hairsstand aloofstartstart asidestart backsteersteer clear ofstepstep asidestopgapstratagemstrategystrokestroke of policysubterfugeswerveswindletactictemporary expedienttergiversatethe runaroundtouch upontouch upon lightlytricktrickerytrumpturn asidetwist and turnveerwaffleward offweaselweasel outweavewelshwheezewilewily devicewinceworking hypothesisworking propositionzigzag
Noun(32 words)
Verb(20 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abandoning, about the bush, action, ad hoc measure, ambiguity.
- Sentence evidence is available for dodge, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dodge".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dodge"
Keep "dodge" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dodge" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dodge", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dodge" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
13 entriesCollocations
11 entriesclever dodgedodge maneuverdodgeballdodging questionsdodging responsibilityevasive maneuverlegal dodgephysical dodgingquick dodgestrategic dodgetax dodging
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriesSample sentences
24 total sentences available.
On his bicycle he can dodge through traffic with amazing speed.
Source: tatoeba (540500)
Let's play dodge ball.
Source: tatoeba (1140071)
Tom didn't want to play dodge ball because he was tired.
Source: tatoeba (1447706)
Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dodge"?
Closest matches include abandoning, about the bush, action, ad hoc measure, ambiguity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dodge"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.