circumvent meaning and definition

CIRCUMVENT verb

Definition of circumvent (verb)

1. surround so as to force to give up
   • "The Turks besieged Vienna"
   • synonyms: beleaguer, besiege, hem in, surround
2. beat through cleverness and wit
   • "I beat the traffic"; "She outfoxed her competitors"
   • synonyms: beat, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach
3. avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
   • "He dodged the issue"; "she skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully"
   • synonyms: dodge, duck, elude, evade, fudge, hedge, parry, put off, sidestep, skirt