circumvent

/ˌˈsʌrkəmˌˈvɛnt/

/səkəmˈvɛnt/

Other forms: circumvented; circumventing; circumvents

To circumvent is to avoid. Someone who trains elephants but somehow gets out of picking up after them has found a way to circumvent the cleaning of the circus tent.

Circum in Latin means "around" or "round about," and vent- comes from venire, "to come," but painting a picture from these two parts of the word helps. Picture someone circling around a barrier instead of climbing over it. That's what you do when you circumvent. You find a smart way around rules or barriers, or avoid doing something unpleasant altogether.

Definitions of circumvent

1. verb

   surround so as to force to give up
   synonyms: beleaguer, besiege, hem in, surround

   types:

   blockade, seal off

   impose a blockade on

   ebb

   hem in fish with stakes and nets so as to prevent them from going back into the sea with the ebb

   type of:

   assail, attack

   launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
2. verb

   avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
   synonyms: dodge, duck, elude, evade, fudge, hedge, parry, put off, sidestep, skirt

   types:

   beg, beg the question

   dodge, avoid answering, or take for granted

   quibble

   evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections

   type of:

   avoid

   stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
3. verb

   beat through cleverness and wit
   synonyms: beat, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach

   beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

   type of:

   exceed, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surmount, surpass

   be or do something to a greater degree