eschew

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verb es·chew \e-ˈshü, i-; es-ˈchü, is-; also e-ˈskyü\

: to avoid (something) especially because you do not think it is right, proper, etc.

Full Definition of ESCHEW

transitive verb

:  to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds :  shun

— es·chew·al \-əl\ noun

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Examples of ESCHEW

1. They now eschew the violence of their past.
2. a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy
3. Though a doctor with psychiatric training, he eschewed the science that had so enamored earlier child-rearing professionals … —Sue Halpern, New York Review of Books, 29 May 2003
4. A fair number of academics eschew the simple title “professor” and call themselves economists, astronomers, historians, philosophers. —Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999
5. When introduced to a stranger, he eschewed formalities, stuck out a gnarled right hand and responded with a chummy, “Hermann.” —Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 2 Feb. 1998

Origin of ESCHEW

Middle English, from Anglo-French eschiver (3d present eschiu) of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off — more at shy

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ESCHEW

Synonyms

avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, evade, finesse, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of)

Related Words

miss; avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off); ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, preclude, rule out; bypass, circumvent, skirt; foil, fox, frustrate, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach, thwart

Near Antonyms

accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome; catch, contract, incur

See Synonym Discussion at escape

Rhymes with ESCHEW

accrue, achoo, adieu, ado, Agnew, aircrew, airscrew, anew, askew, babu, Baku, bamboo, battu, battue, bayou, bedew, beshrew, bestrew, bijou, boo-boo, boubou, brand-new, breakthrough, burgoo, cachou, can-do, canoe, caoutchouc, Carew, Cebu, Chonju, construe, Corfu, corkscrew, coypu, CQ, cuckoo, curfew, debut, Depew, doo-doo, ecu, endue, ensue, floor-through, fondue, fordo, Gansu, Gentoo, Gifu, goo-goo, GQ, ground crew, gumshoe, guru, hairdo, hereto, Hindu, home brew, Honshu, horseshoe, how-to, HQ, Hutu, igloo, imbrue, imbue, IQ, jackscrew, K2, Kansu, karoo, Karoo, kazoo, Khufu, kung fu, Kwangju, leadscrew, lean-to, long view, make-do, Matthew, me-too, mildew, milieu, miscue, misdo, muumuu, non-U, old-shoe, one-two, on view, outdo, perdu, Peru, poilu, prau, preview, pursue, purview, ragout, redo, renew, Renfrew, review, revue, rough-hew, run-through, sandshoe, Sardou, see-through, set-to, setscrew, shampoo, sinew, skiddoo, snafu, snowshoe, soft-shoe, span-new, subdue, surtout, taboo, Taegu, tattoo, thank-you, thereto, thumbscrew, to-do, too-too, tree shrew, undo, undue, unglue, unscrew, untrue, vatu, vendue, venue, virtu, voodoo, wahoo, walk-through, wherethrough, whereto, who's who, worldview, yahoo, yoo-hoo