eschew

verb

es·​chew e-ˈshü How to pronounce eschew (audio)
i-;
es-ˈchü How to pronounce eschew (audio)
is-;
 also  e-ˈskyü
eschewed; eschewing; eschews

transitive verb

: to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : shun
eschewal
e-ˈshü-əl How to pronounce eschew (audio)
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....”

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Sister Deborah, real liberation lies in eschewing conformity to any dogma, even the Bible. Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2024 Policymakers continued to eschew any effort to address structural forces driving Black poverty. Ben Zdencanovic, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024 Sorolla often sought to make his portraits appear natural, eschewing formal poses in favor of capturing intimate moments. Natasha Gural, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Perhaps the divide between older workers—who consistently break for lunch—and new workforce entrants—who often eschew it—stems from the pandemic, as so many modern workplace trends do. Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for eschew 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of eschew was in the 14th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near eschew

Cite this Entry

“Eschew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eschew. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

eschew

verb
es·​chew is-ˈchü How to pronounce eschew (audio)
: shun, avoid

More from Merriam-Webster on eschew

Last Updated: - Updated Did you know?
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!