circumvent

What does “circumvent” mean?

adjective.to find a way around (an obstacle).

SAT Usage

This term often appears in passages related to problem-solving, strategy, or conflict, emphasizing cleverness or ingenuity in overcoming challenges. It suggests not just avoidance of obstacles, but also an active, often cunning approach, distinguishing it from similar words like "evade," which implies mere avoidance without the connotation of strategy.

Common Confusions

Circumvent implies a clever or strategic approach to overcoming obstacles, while evade usually suggests a more passive or simple avoidance of them without an element of strategy.

Example Sentences

• She found a way to circumvent the school's strict dress code.

• They found a way to circumvent the traffic by taking back roads.

Word Parts: How to Remember “circumvent”

Break “circumvent” into its parts: circum- (around) + -ven- (come). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: circum- around (Latin)
• Root: -ven- come (Latin)