1
as in avoided
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ducked
Andy Byron, then CEO of tech company Astronomer, and the company’s Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot broke away from a cosy embrace and ducked for cover to avoid being caught on kiss cam.
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Will Barker, TheWeek, 30 Dec. 2025
Dugan and her attorneys left the courtroom, ducked into a side conference room and closed the door without speaking to reporters.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Cabot immediately covered her face and turned away from the camera, while a stunned Byron ducked down and exited the frame.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Inside, students studied for final exams and ducked for cover or barricaded themselves using furniture when shots rang out.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
Oduro and about 20 students ducked and huddled behind a desk in front of the auditorium, the only refuge available, and called 911.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Before Zoë showed up, Sarah ducked into the village shop and stole some dry, warm clothes for herself and Dinah along with candy and some liquor miniatures that will come in handy later.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Elliott ducked and then immediately fired four gunshots, the prosecutor added, that struck Avalos.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
Late in the second quarter Sunday night, Nix stepped up in the pocket, sprinted forward and ducked his right shoulder to avoid Washington linebacker Preston Smith.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ducked
Verb
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Last night’s premiere marked Hadid’s first major red carpet moment of 2026, having avoided any awards ceremony or glitzy gala so far.—
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Crocker-Johnson avoided early foul trouble and led all scorers with 10 points as Minnesota shot 56% from the field.—
Verb
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Wash With Soap and Water As a final step, dab the area with a cloth or sponge dipped in slightly soapy water.—
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The number of teachers on the payroll dipped, too, by about 17% in 2022 and 2023 before creeping back up in 2024 and 2025, according to data provided by Epic.—
Verb
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The Ravens would find the endzone once again with nine minutes left in regulation after Lamar Jackson evaded heavy pressure from Pittsburgh's front seven to find Zay Flowers for a 50-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead, 17-13.—
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Out-of-state businesses that evaded city taxes by hiding city business income.—
Verb
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Those who remain are concentrated in Venezuela’s cities, including its capital, Caracas, where the street market in the Catia neighborhood once was so busy that shoppers bumped into one another and dodged oncoming traffic.—
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French President Emmanuel Macron dodged a similar question.—
Verb
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As new Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is immersed in a coaching search, the team made its first roster move under his management.—
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About two years later, the couple got engaged, and by then, Seehorn was immersed in Larson's family, which includes his two sons with Haney.—
Verb
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The second employee escaped, but Partida was trapped inside, per the outlet.—
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The Los Angeles Rams narrowly escaped defeat against the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round and are favored on the road against the Chicago Bears.—
Verb
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And a mom and dad promote ocean safety after their son drowned.—
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On June 20, 2001, in the Houston suburb of Clear Lake, Andrea Yates drowned her five children—Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary—in the family bathtub.—
Cite this Entry
“Ducked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ducked. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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