side
step
Third Person
sidesteps
Present Participle
sidestepping
Past Tense
sidestepped
Past Participle
sidestepped
1
to avoid or bypass a problem, question, or responsibility by addressing it indirectly or by taking a different approach
transitive
- During the interview, the politician attempted to sidestep controversial questions by redirecting the conversation to unrelated topics.
- When faced with a difficult decision, she often tends to sidestep the issue rather than confront it directly.
- The manager skillfully sidestepped a potential conflict by diplomatically addressing the concerns raised by the team.
- The student cleverly sidestepped the challenging question during the exam by discussing a related topic.
- Rather than facing the consequences of their actions, some people choose to sidestep accountability by shifting blame onto others.