SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
circumvent
verb
To get around a difficulty, obstacle, or rule.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Get around an obstacle
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topEvade can suggest avoiding a duty; bypass can simply mean taking another route.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See circumvent in use
The new route allowed cyclists to circumvent the roadworks.
A paper sign-up sheet helped circumvent unreliable wireless access at the collection desk without changing who was entitled to borrow tools.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license