sidelined
Kept from playing
Sidelined means removed from active participation, kept on the margins rather than in the main action.
The term comes from sports, where injured or benched players watch from the sidelines: He was sidelined with a knee injury.
The meaning extends to any forced inactivity: The scandal sidelined her political career.
To be sidelined is to be set aside, whether temporarily or permanently.
Deferred or stored away
- mothballedPreserved but inactive
- suspendedHalted or hanging temporarily
- pausedStopped temporarily
- stalledStopped unexpectedly
postponed · deferred · tabled · parked · benched · idled · grounded · sidetracked
Replacement for another
- reserveSupply kept back
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- benchwarmerSeldom-used team member
- second-stringSubstitute team members
nonstarter · alternate · replacement · roster · squad · pinch-hitter · relief · understudy
Not noticed or considered
- passed-overNot selected despite eligibility
- bypassedWent around an obstacle
- snubbedIntentionally disregarded
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
dismissed · cut · dropped · omitted · rebuffed · spurned · blackballed · unchosen
Deprived of voting rights
- underrepresentedInsufficiently present in proportion
- silencedRendered unable to speak
- voicelessHaving no voice
- disempoweredDeprived of authority or influence
peripheral · sidetracked · deprioritized · undervalued · discounted · overshadowed · eclipsed · relegated
Recovery from injury/addiction
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- hamstringCripple or thigh muscle
- concussionBrain injury from impact
- sprainLigament stretch injury
fracture · healing · convalescing · recuperating · rehabbing · cleared
shelved
Deferred or stored away
- mothballedPreserved but inactive
- suspendedHalted or hanging temporarily
- pausedStopped temporarily
stalled · postponed · deferred · tabled · parked · benched · idled · grounded · sidetracked · backburnered
substitute
Replacement for another
- reserveSupply kept back
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- benchwarmerSeldom-used team member
second-string · nonstarter · alternate · replacement · roster · squad · pinch-hitter · relief · understudy · scratch
overlooked
Not noticed or considered
- passed-overNot selected despite eligibility
- bypassedWent around an obstacle
- snubbedIntentionally disregarded
ignored · dismissed · cut · dropped · omitted · rebuffed · spurned · blackballed · unchosen · unselected
disenfranchised
Deprived of voting rights
- underrepresentedInsufficiently present in proportion
- silencedRendered unable to speak
- voicelessHaving no voice
disempowered · peripheral · sidetracked · deprioritized · undervalued · discounted · overshadowed · eclipsed · relegated · subordinated
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- hamstringCripple or thigh muscle
- concussionBrain injury from impact
sprain · fracture · healing · convalescing · recuperating · rehabbing · cleared
- being overlookedneglect, dismissal, unnoticed, oversight, disregard
- overlookedoverlooked, unnoticed, ignored, forgotten, neglected
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- Sitting Outbenched, on the bench, sitting idle, out of action, spectating
- unusedunused, idle, untouched, vacant, empty
- washed-uphas-been, over the hill, past prime, played out, finished
sidelinedin the game
Actively participating
playing · active · participating · in action · starting
sidelinedprioritized
Ordered by importance
central · front and center · featured · centered · highlighted
- on the sidelinesNot in the action