as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
this shunning of your financial responsibilities cannot continue indefinitely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
just a ruse to shun the debt collectors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of shunning
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Special occasions celebrators, romantic weekenders, limelight-shunning VIPs, and families who want to be by the water can all be found lounging around the resort.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
But the end of colonial rule galvanized a new frontier spirit around booze, with Americans shunning the sherry, port, and brandy favored by the stiff Europeans, and instead leaning into their own hooch created by a mash of whatever grains were on hand.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 May 2026
The Amish, known for their simple lifestyle, are surprisingly adopting AI for entrepreneurial endeavors, despite shunning other modern technologies.
—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Audiences shunning the movie — which was released across more than 1,000 theaters in the US — is a reminder that art is tricky, even as the kingdom pours billions into building a film industry.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
One group ripe for shunning is broadcasters such as Carlson and Alex Jones, who has also reacted strongly to the Iran war.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
The concept, in its original form, described a tendency on the political left to react to minor ideological or linguistic offenses by demanding firings or social shunning, demands often reinforced by outraged social-media mobs.
—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Gas prices in focus for Memorial Day travel Just a few years ago, the auto industry was largely shunning big engines in favor of more fuel efficient powertrains.
—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Special occasions celebrators, romantic weekenders, limelight-shunning VIPs, and families who want to be by the water can all be found lounging around the resort.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
But the end of colonial rule galvanized a new frontier spirit around booze, with Americans shunning the sherry, port, and brandy favored by the stiff Europeans, and instead leaning into their own hooch created by a mash of whatever grains were on hand.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 May 2026
The Amish, known for their simple lifestyle, are surprisingly adopting AI for entrepreneurial endeavors, despite shunning other modern technologies.
—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Audiences shunning the movie — which was released across more than 1,000 theaters in the US — is a reminder that art is tricky, even as the kingdom pours billions into building a film industry.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
One group ripe for shunning is broadcasters such as Carlson and Alex Jones, who has also reacted strongly to the Iran war.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shunning
Noun
-
There were few escape attempts because of the remote location of the state.
-
The rebrand is still finding its footing as businesses learn how to balance a peaceful escape into farmland with a bustling tourism industry.
Verb
-
Base editing, the process used to make the changes, only nicks one strand of DNA, avoiding the major DNA errors that made CRISPR unsafe.
-
So, avoiding extreme sleep deprivation can be helpful.
Noun
-
The conditions that drive transmission — silence, shame, and avoidance — remain largely unchanged.
-
Obstacle avoidance is critical, as is collecting visual data of plant health and lighting conditions (natural and artificial LED illumination) for correlations over time, to improve yield.
Verb
-
According to the lawsuit, the defendants profited from unlawful short-term rentals while evading requirements in city law designed to protect short-term renters, protect the quality of life for neighborhood residents and maintain a supply of affordable housing.
-
Robinzine was charged with evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm and tempering with physical evidence.
Noun
-
The athlete does not let himself be dribbled by the slightest sensitive subject, practicing an art of evasion beneath an XXL smile, under warm spotlights that illuminate his blue linen suit.
-
The sheriff’s office reports hundreds of arrests, dozens of fugitives apprehended and weapons recovered, along with declines in fare evasion and crime where deputies have been deployed.
Verb
-
Engineers have been trying to capture this escaping waste heat and turn it back into electricity using thermoelectric devices.
-
The current population is a result of the toads escaping or being released by importers during the 1950s and ‘60s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Cite this Entry
“Shunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shunning. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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