circumvent responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "circumvent responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to avoid or escape accountability for something. Example: "He tried to circumvent responsibility for the project's failure by blaming his team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What better way to circumvent responsibility for underfunding the VA and voting against veteran's legislation than blaming big government?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The workers argued that the coal mines had continuously circumvented their responsibility to purchase social insurance for the workers and violated state laws and regulations.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

If service of the John Doe summons is approved, the I.R.S. will pursue people and advisers identified through the summons process who use offshore bank and financial accounts to circumvent their tax responsibilities".

The New York Times

The I.R.S. commissioner, Douglas H. Shulman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the agency would "pursue people and advisers identified through the summons process who use offshore bank and financial accounts to circumvent their tax responsibilities".

The New York Times

The dominant concern that patients 'take responsibility' was circumvented in accounts of circumstances in which BMI or smoking were deemed beyond a patient's full responsibility or power to change.

BMC Health Services Research

And 79percentt of those surveyed believing that online services have a responsibility to step in and circumvent harassment.

TechCrunch

For a central bank to neglect its primary responsibilities in an effort to circumvent those limits is the height of folly and hubris.

The Economist

The European worker added that top-level agencies like the World Food Program will often circumvent this problem by handing food distribution responsibilities to local organizations, and thus disassociate themselves from any "administrative fees" that might be charged on the ground.

Huffington Post

Removing these decisions from the responsibility of local councillors (or simply by circumventing the planning process) will either be seen as a wise attempt to force progress or a cynical attempt to avoid blame for unpopular developments.

The Guardian

In one case, it has temporarily circumvented the Senate by giving the Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren acting responsibility for a new agency focused on consumer financial protection.

The New York Times

Urged by the United States to shoulder greater military responsibilities, Japan has passed laws since 2001 to circumvent its pacifist Constitution and allow it to assist in the American-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "circumvent responsibility", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific duty or obligation being avoided. This will provide clarity and prevent misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "circumvent responsibility" when you mean to indicate a compromise or sharing of responsibility. "Circumvent" implies complete avoidance, whereas compromise suggests a partial acceptance or redistribution of duties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "circumvent responsibility" functions as a verb phrase where "circumvent" acts as a transitive verb taking "responsibility" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates its primary role is to describe actions taken to avoid accountability. Examples show it used in contexts of legal, ethical, and financial obligations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "circumvent responsibility" describes the act of avoiding or evading a duty or obligation, often through strategic means. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable, although relatively rare in occurrence. It commonly appears in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts, typically to express the deliberate avoidance of accountability. Related phrases include "evade accountability" and "shirk duties". When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the specific responsibility being avoided to prevent misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade accountability

Focuses more specifically on avoiding being held accountable.

shirk duties

Implies neglecting or avoiding one's assigned tasks or obligations.

dodge obligations

Suggests actively avoiding responsibilities, often through cleverness or trickery.

sidestep accountability

Implies avoiding accountability, often by maneuvering around it.

skirt responsibility

Suggests narrowly avoiding responsibility without fully confronting it.

avoid liability

Specifically relates to avoiding legal or financial responsibility.

evade obligations

Emphasizes the active avoidance of duties.

escape responsibility

Focuses on getting free from a duty that one is expected to fulfill.

bypass accountability

Implies going around the standard processes for being held responsible.

neglect obligations

Suggests a failure to fulfill one's responsibilities due to carelessness or indifference.

FAQs

What does "circumvent responsibility" mean?

The phrase "circumvent responsibility" means to avoid or bypass a duty or obligation, often through clever or strategic means. It implies a deliberate attempt to escape accountability.

How can I use "circumvent responsibility" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company tried to "circumvent responsibility" for the environmental damage by shifting blame to a subcontractor."

What are some alternatives to "circumvent responsibility"?

Alternatives include "evade accountability", "shirk duties", or "dodge obligations", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to "avoid responsibility" or "circumvent responsibility"?

"Avoid responsibility" is a more general term, while "circumvent responsibility" implies a more strategic or calculated effort to escape a duty. Circumvent often involves finding a loophole or indirect method.