sidelining
Keeping from play
Sidelining is the act of removing someone from active participation or relegating them to a marginal role.
Athletes get sidelined by injuries; employees get sidelined by reorganizations.
The word implies being benched—still present but no longer in the game: The scandal led to her sidelining from the committee.
It can also mean setting aside an issue for later: We're sidelining that discussion until next quarter.
Shared seating surface
- benchingRemoving from active play
- substituteReplacement for another
- dugoutCarved-log canoe
- inactiveNot currently functioning
second-string · nonstarter · rotation · warm-up · reserve · backup · scratched · rested
Treat as insignificant
- ostracizeExclude from a group
- excludeBar from participation
- alienateCause emotional distance
- isolateSeparate from others
overlook · dismiss · relegate · disenfranchise · ignore · disregard · neglect · snub
Reduction in status
- benchedTaken out of action
- passed-overNot selected despite eligibility
- sidetrackedDiverted from main task
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
underutilized · overlooked · stagnation · dead-end · plateau · redundancy · restructuring · downsizing
Ready substitute awaiting use
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- queueOrdered waiting line
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
surplus · inventory · pool · cache · contingency · fallback · depth · supply
Having sustained harm
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- hamstringCripple or thigh muscle
- concussionBrain injury from impact
sprain · strain · surgery · trainer · crutches · setback · precautionary
bench
Shared seating surface
- benchingRemoving from active play
- substituteReplacement for another
- dugoutCarved-log canoe
inactive · second-string · nonstarter · rotation · warm-up · reserve · backup · scratched · rested
marginalize
Treat as insignificant
isolate · overlook · dismiss · relegate · disenfranchise · ignore · disregard · neglect · snub · bypass
demotion
Reduction in status
- benchedTaken out of action
- passed-overNot selected despite eligibility
- sidetrackedDiverted from main task
marginalized · underutilized · overlooked · stagnation · dead-end · plateau · redundancy · restructuring · downsizing · layoff
standby
Ready substitute awaiting use
stockpile · surplus · inventory · pool · cache · contingency · fallback · depth · supply · provision
injured
Having sustained harm
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- hamstringCripple or thigh muscle
concussion · sprain · strain · surgery · trainer · crutches · setback · precautionary
- diminished importancedemotion, downgrade, deprecation, marginalization, trivialization
- setting asidereserving, saving, shelving, parking, stashing
- injusticeinjustice, inequality, discrimination, bias, prejudice
- downplayingminimizing, downplay, trivializing, belittling, soft-pedal
- rejectionrejection, reject, denial, refuse, refusal
- sports infractionsfoul, violation, red card, ejection, disqualification
sideliningincluding
Containing as part
involving · integrating · incorporating · engaging · bringing in
sideliningpromoting
Actively supporting or furthering
featuring · highlighting · spotlighting · showcasing · foregrounding
sideliningempowering
Giving authority or confidence
enabling · supporting · authorizing · entrusting · backing
line, side, outsider, sideline, sidelines, sidelined, sideliner, sideliners