Definition of ESCHEWED

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

Did You Know?

Eschew derives from the Anglo-French verb eschiver and is akin to the Old High German verb sciuhen ("to frighten off"), an ancestor of our word shy. In his famous dictionary of 1755 Dr. Samuel Johnson characterized "eschew" as "almost obsolete." History has proven that the great lexicographer was wrong on that call, however. William Thackeray found "eschew" alive enough to use it almost one hundred years later in his classic novel Vanity Fair: "He has already eschewed green coats, red neckcloths, and other worldly ornaments." The word swelled in usage in English during the 19th and 20th centuries and is now common enough to be included even in small paperback dictionaries.

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

Days later, both bored with their regular routines — Karl with his vapid girlfriend, and Danny with stale home life — Danny-as-Lance and Karl-as-Roxette get back into the game, and once again eschew fighting for hooking up. — Kaitlin Reilly, refinery29.com, "Black Mirror, Season 5, Episode 1 Recap: "Striking Vipers"," 6 June 2019 There’s something deeply satisfying about eschewing real life for its near-opposite; views of the ocean, for instance, not a brick building in Brooklyn, or sequins and red lipstick instead of spit-up and dog hair. — Sarah Firshein, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Survive That First Trip Away from Your Baby," 3 Dec. 2018 Nothing says the holidays like braving maddening airport crowds, eschewing prying questions at big family gatherings, or looming end-of-year work deadlines. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "5 Ways to De-Stress—And Stay Sane—During the Holidays," 19 Nov. 2018 Yet the administration’s secrecy, and its tendency to eschew the traditional fanfare of peacemaking, may give President Trump a leg up on his predecessors. — Jonathan Schanzer And, WSJ, "Trump’s Subtlety Could Yield Middle East Peace," 13 Mar. 2019 Disney+ is part of Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Iger’s broader strategy to adapt to changes in the media landscape, as people increasingly eschew traditional cable television packages and expect more films available in the home. — Meg James, The Seattle Times, "Disney announces Disney+ will launch November 12, at $6.99 a month," 11 Apr. 2019 Which means that Trump’s policies — which purposely eschew international cooperation and engagement — come at the most inopportune time. — Alex Ward, Vox, "America’s declining power, in one quote," 14 Sep. 2018 Markle has already proved herself to be a royal unlike any other, at least clothing-wise, with her decisions to sometimes eschew cardigans and wear a messy bun at her wedding. — refinery29.com, "Meghan Markle Is A Royal On Her Own Terms — & Her Latest Look Is Proof," 9 June 2018 Though Kirsten's life is obviously lived in the public eye, Jonathan prefers to keep a low profile, appearing on his wife's social media occasionally but eschewing developing one of his own. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "Who is Kirsten Gillibrand's Husband Jonathan Gillibrand?," 27 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eschew.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.