sidetracking

verb

present participle of sidetrack
as in deviating

Related Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidetracking
  1. deviating
  2. averting
  3. deflecting
  4. diverting
  5. shifting
  6. redirecting
  7. switching
  8. veering
Verb
  • The artisans stay true to the original colors and designs of the park — never deviating in 70 years.
    — Carole Horst, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In 2024, the government decided against deviating from the 2021 census questions in the interests of maintaining social cohesion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of deviating
Verb
  • The settlement was reached during a California federal trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users.
    — Diana Novak Jones, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The first step in averting this spiral toward catastrophe is for both Beijing and Washington to bear in mind that these economic tools were not designed as weapons.
    — GLORIA XIONG, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of averting
Verb
  • Rather than simply reducing opponents’ health, players seek to break opponents’ posture by precisely deflecting and countering attacks.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The former Carolina Panthers linebacker spent his 15 minutes deflecting credit and thanking others, showering dozens of people from his life with praise.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of deflecting
Verb
  • This year alone, $5 billion in taxpayer funds will be siphoned away from public schools to prop up Florida’s unaccountable voucher program, diverting dollars from the more than 80% of children who attend public schools.
    — Andrew Spar, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • All this scattershot world-building and world-visiting allows for some colorfully diverting vignettes, in which production designer Alexandra Walker and costume designer Ann Maskrey get to show off their giddy, gaudy wares.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of diverting
Verb
  • As rising energy prices drive up inflation, several central banks across the Asia-Pacific region are shifting toward hawkish stances.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The shifting strategy centers on threats to punish any country or entity that continues to conduct business with Tehran.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of shifting
Verb
  • The war was top of mind at last year’s festival as well, where thousands gathered for a large pro-Palestinian protest during one of the busiest nights in hopes of redirecting the spotlight from the movie stars to the real world.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, the city expects to use economic activity taxes generated by the stadium, a special 1% sales tax in the stadium and redirecting new tax revenue from existing development in the area, among other sources.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of redirecting
Verb
  • He was recruited out of high school as a wide receiver before switching to defensive back, and his pass-catching background gives him an edge tracking the ball.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Physicists have found a way to stabilize a system without sensors or feedback, by switching between two instabilities at the right tempo.
    — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of switching
Verb
  • According to an arrest report, Rios began to honk his horn at two bicyclists and then was seen on video veering his SUV toward them.
    — Peter D'Oench, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • However, when considering veering from the tradition, recognize that your choice may draw attention away from the purpose of the day or be upsetting to others from older generations.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of veering
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Sidetracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidetracking. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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