sidestep
To avoid something by quickly stepping to the side.
To sidestep means to avoid something by stepping sideways or around it, either physically or figuratively.
In sports like basketball or soccer, a player might sidestep a defender by quickly shifting left or right to get past them. A hiker might sidestep a puddle on the trail. The word captures that quick, sideways movement that gets you around an obstacle.
But people also sidestep questions, problems, or responsibilities. When a politician sidesteps a reporter's tough question by talking about something else instead, they're dodging it without directly answering. A student might try to sidestep blame for a group project going poorly by pointing fingers at teammates instead of taking responsibility.
The word suggests cleverness or evasiveness. Sometimes sidestepping is smart: you sidestep unnecessary drama by staying out of an argument between friends. Other times it's cowardly: a leader who sidesteps difficult decisions when people need clear answers isn't leading well. The physical image of stepping sideways to avoid something captures both meanings: sometimes it's nimble and wise, sometimes it's just running away in a fancy way.