He attempted to sidestep a conflict with his chief.
Source: tatoeba (299675)
Sidestep
/ˈsaɪdˌstɛp/
Synonyms for "sidestep" (191 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (39)
Strong matches (57)
defense mechanismdodgedraw asidedraw backduckease offedgeedge offelusionequivocateequivocationescapeevadeevade the issuefadefall backfallbackfenceflinchfly off
Show 17 more words
forbearanceforestallinggeegetglanceglance offgo crabwisego offgo sidewayshang backhawhead offhedgehem and hawhum and hawjiblateral
Related words (95)
Noun(12 words)
lateralizemake leewaymake way formince the truthmince wordsmove asidemystifyneutralitynitpicknoninterventionnoninvolvementobscurepalterparrypick nitsprevaricatepreventionpull awaypull backpullback
Show 53 more words
pulloutpussyfootput offquailquibblerecoilreelreel backrefrainingretreatrunaroundsheer offshiftshift offshirkshove asideshrinkshrink backshuffleshunshunningshuntshyshy awayshy offsidesideslipsidetracksidleskewskidskirtslipsplit hairsstartstart asidestart backsteer clear ofstep asideswerveswitchtergiversateturn asideturn awayturn backveerveer offwaffleward offweaselweasel outwincezigzag
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: about the bush, around the bush, avert, avoid, avoid.
- Sentence evidence is available for sidestep, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, 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 "sidestep".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sidestep"
Keep "sidestep" 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 "sidestep" 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 "sidestep", 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 "sidestep" 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
15 entriesMore specific
11 entriesbureaucratic workarounddeflectiondodgeducklateral steplegal workaroundloopholenonresponsesideways stepstall tacticworkaround
Collocations
8 entriespolicy sidesteppolitical sidestepsidestep maneuversidestep movesidestep strategysidestep tacticsidestep techniquestrategic sidestep
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
I managed to sidestep every pitfall.
Source: tatoeba (10552074)
I […] knocked and waited. […] He sidestepped, and I went in.
Source: wiktionary
Kilmarnock ought to have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Hefferman set up Kroca and, although the defender neatly sidestepped his marker, he fired straight into the chest of Enckelman.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sidestep"?
Closest matches include about the bush, around the bush, avert, avoid, avoid.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sidestep"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.