sidestepping
Moving laterally away
Sidestepping is moving to one side to avoid something—literally stepping sideways to dodge a blow or obstacle.
The figurative use dominates: to sidestep a question is to evade it, to sidestep responsibility is to avoid accepting it.
He kept sidestepping the issue of his qualifications.
The word implies deliberate avoidance rather than accidental missing.
Avoiding by moving aside
- avoidingDeliberately staying clear
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
- circumventingAvoiding by going around
bypassing · deflecting · eluding · skirting · evading · shunning · escaping · diverting
Point of rotation
- shiftMovement or work period
- lateralOf the side
- shuffleRandomize by mixing
- jukeDeceptive athletic sidestep
swerve · veer · feint · sideslip · footwork · reposition · maneuver · zigzag
Ease of quick movement
- quicknessState of being fast
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- reflexesAutomatic physical responses
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
balance · mobility · footwork · light-footed · reactivity · spryness · athleticism · flexibility
Defeating through superior tactics
- feintingDeceptive combat maneuver
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- countermoveResponding strategic action
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
ploy · tactics · misdirection · deception · diversion · finesse · juking · foresight
Move across an area
- edgingDecorative border material
- stemmingRoot-form reduction process
- snowplowVehicle clearing frozen precipitation
- herringboneV-shaped diagonal weave
sideslip · carving · parallel · downhill · moguls · switchback · traversing · slope
dodging
Avoiding by moving aside
circumventing · bypassing · deflecting · eluding · skirting · evading · shunning · escaping · diverting · parrying
pivot
Point of rotation
juke · swerve · veer · feint · sideslip · footwork · reposition · maneuver · zigzag · cutting
nimbleness
Ease of quick movement
coordination · balance · mobility · footwork · light-footed · reactivity · spryness · athleticism · flexibility · gracefulness
outmaneuvering
Defeating through superior tactics
- feintingDeceptive combat maneuver
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- countermoveResponding strategic action
gambit · ploy · tactics · misdirection · deception · diversion · finesse · juking · foresight · adaptation
traverse
Move across an area
- edgingDecorative border material
- stemmingRoot-form reduction process
- snowplowVehicle clearing frozen precipitation
herringbone · sideslip · carving · parallel · downhill · moguls · switchback · traversing · slope · descent
foxtrot
Smooth partner dance
ballroom · quickstep · cha-cha · swing · jive · grapevine · chassé · promenade
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- walkingwalking, brisk walking, strolling, ambling, sauntering
- avoidanceavoidance, distancing, evasion, dodging, pulling away
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- evasion tacticsevasion, avoidance, dodging, deflecting, misdirection
- evasionsno comment, dodge, deflection, hedging, equivocation
sidesteppingconfronting
Addressing directly
facing · tackling · addressing · engaging · dealing with
sidesteppingaccepting
Willing to receive
embracing · owning · acknowledging · shouldering · assuming
step, side, steps, sidestep, stepping, stepped, sidesteps, sidestepped, stepper