Sidestepped

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Moved aside physically to avoid contact or collision by stepping to one side ; avoided dealing directly with a question, issue, or obligation
2. Took a sideways step to dodge an obstacle or another person ; deliberately avoided or ignored a difficult subject or responsibility
3. Shifted the body laterally to prevent being hit or caught ; consciously evaded confronting or addressing a problem or topic

Etymology: Sidestepped is the past tense of "sidestep," a compound of "side" and "step," both native English words descended from Old English. Its literal sense is taking a step to one side, and the figurative sense of avoiding a question or issue grew out of that physical dodge, like a footballer slipping past a tackle rather than meeting it head on. The "-ed" ending simply marks the past tense.

Synonyms: avoided, dodged, eluded, circumvented, escaped

Antonyms: confronted, faced, engaged, encountered, met