eschew

verb

es·​chew e-ˈshü 

i-;

es-ˈchü 

is-;

 also  e-ˈskyü

eschewed; eschewing; eschews

transitive verb

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

eschewal

e-ˈshü-əl 

i-;

es-ˈchü-

is-;

 also  e-ˈskyü-

noun

Did you know?

Something to chew on: there’s no etymological relationship between the verbs chew and eschew. While the former comes from the Old English word cēowan, eschew comes instead from the Anglo-French verb eschiver and shares roots with the Old High German verb sciuhen, meaning “to frighten off.” In his famous dictionary of 1755, Samuel Johnson characterized eschew as “almost obsolete.” History has proven that the great lexicographer was wrong on that call, however. Today, following a boom in the word’s usage during the 19th and 20th centuries, English speakers and writers use eschew when something is avoided less for temperamental reasons than for moral or practical ones, even if misguidedly so, as when Barry Lopez wrote in his 2019 book Horizon of ill-fated Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott, “with an attitude of cultural superiority, eschewing sled dogs for Manchurian ponies....”

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for eschew

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Examples of eschew in a Sentence

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

A fair number of academics eschew the simple title "professor" and call themselves economists, astronomers, historians, philosophers. —Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999

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

They now eschew the violence of their past.

a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy

Recent Examples on the Web

The discussions, which were confirmed by Trump aide Stephen Miller, are in response to the nationwide injunctions against the president’s actions on deportations, which eschew due process protections. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 12 May 2025

NBCUniversal, Fox, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and TelevisaUnivision (with Paramount still eschewing the spotlight) will face stiff competition in the form of Amazon, Netflix and YouTube. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 May 2025

Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes — eschewing, as Francis did, the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes. —Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

An American pope: WATCH: Video shows Robert Prevost introduced as Pope Leo XIV at Vatican balcony Francis eschewed a lot of the pomp and pretense of the papacy, living in a simple apartment, riding in a Fiat and adopting a more humble, accessible air than most of his predecessors. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eschew

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

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Kids Definition

eschew

verb

es·​chew is-ˈchü 

: shun, avoid