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
  • Its report accused him of diverting funds for fictitious missions and claiming reimbursals for per diem costs and plane tickets for nearly a dozen trips between 2019 and 2024.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • El Niño’s warm ocean water alters the atmospheric circulation above, diverting storm tracks and changing patterns of floods, droughts and tropical storms around the globe.
    — Julia Cole, The Conversation, 27 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
  • On Thursday, an older gentleman started at the sign with a green arrow redirecting patrons on the post-construction path.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
  • His trajectory shifts when a virtual quest screen appears before him, redirecting him toward life as an army cook.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 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
  • Does Zucker — seem capable of veering off in any direction at any moment?
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 4 Sep. 2026.

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