duck 1 of 2

verb

Definition of ducknext
1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery don't try to duck your commitment to spending Thanksgiving with your family by claiming you have to work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to weave
to move suddenly aside or to and fro duck behind a pillar before they see us

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3
as in to dip
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid ducked the new camper in the lake as a joke

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duck

2 of 2

noun

ˈdək How to pronounce duck (audio)
as in person
a member of the human race her coworkers regard her as something of an odd duck

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of duck
Verb
The masked person, carrying a distinctive blue plaid backpack, was last seen ducking into the SEPTA metro train’s Suburban Station. — David K. Li, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026 Knight tried to duck, Davis said, but was too large to get out of the way and was struck by something. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
Putting missiles on what is essentially a 65-ft (20-m) robotic sailboard might seem as logical as putting a cannon on a duck punt (which has been done), but there is a method to the madness. — David Szondy august 27, New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026 This is partly what propels his mole demi-glace, a convergence of inspirations realized in a duck and smoked chicken stock sharpened by the foundational components of mole. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
  1. avoid
  2. weave
  3. dip
  4. person
  5. evade
  6. dodge
  7. dunk
  8. man
Verb
  • City officials asked people to avoid the downtown area where police are investigating the shooting.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • In a women's cooperative in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, members weave wedding blankets, and at a workshop in Bagru in India, artisans pound block prints onto fabric.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Novotny recently created the look for Julia Fox, weaving chestnut tones through the deeper base for a soft, lived-in effect.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of weave
Verb
  • In 2025-26, his first full season as hockey operations adviser and mentor, Chára dipped his toe into multiple buckets, including management and coaching.
    — Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The five new finds below all come in at under $5 apiece, a low-stakes way to dip your toes into fall flavors without spending much.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of dip
Noun
  • Its movements and squeaks change in response to the person interacting with it, giving caregivers another way to reduce distress and encourage engagement.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Dramatic video showed the rescue of one such person as authorities from Nepal worked to drag the man out of the mud deluge.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of person
Verb
  • He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, obstructing or resisting a peace officer and driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Johnson has previously stated the Illinois constitution’s flat income tax rate evades the city’s wealth gap.
    — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Roosts can be hard to access, and as these fleet flitters can also dodge nets, not to mention breezily detect them using their echolocation capabilities.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Edmunds then dodged a rusher to complete a 49-yard pass to Skylar Robinson to set up a 32-yard field goal Malachi Newmaster on the final play of the first half.
    — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dodge
Verb
  • Moisés Ballesteros dunked an RBI single into center for a 1-1 tie, advancing Grissom to third.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Moisés Ballesteros dunked an RBI single into center for a 1-all tie, advancing Grissom to third.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dunk
Noun
  • The Ravens haven’t traditionally kept a third quarterback on the 53-man roster, but Fagnano starred throughout the preseason, completing 75 percent of his passes and throwing for 509 yards and three touchdowns.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Davis is the only person still alive among the four men prosecutors say were in the Cadillac.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of man

Phrases Containing duck

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duchy
duck
ducked
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Cite this Entry

“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on duck

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about duck

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