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

Much of that can be attributed to the preferences of younger Californians, who have been eschewing major-party labels. — Michael R. Blood, The Seattle Times, "Changing Orange County, California, gives Democrats hope," 16 Oct. 2018 Though his own actions were very much in the public sphere, the late Senator, who passed away on Saturday after a prolonged battle with brain cancer, eschewed calling attention to his family or sharing tidbits of their personal lives. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "How John McCain's Children Were Shaped by His Political Career," 27 Aug. 2018 Hours after a heated free agency period began on Sunday, LeBron James agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers — eschewing the Sixers and their pitch to have the NBA’s biggest star join young talent in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. — Philly.com Staff, Philly.com, "NBA free agency: Sixers still in the mix to trade for Leonard, other updates you need to know," 1 July 2018 The former Navy fighter pilot has kept a low profile, eschewing media requests but issuing a statement alongside first officer Darren Ellisor, who will also be in attendance Tuesday. — Betsy Klein, CNN, "Hero pilot who landed the Southwest plane visits the White House," 1 May 2018 That means eschewing some of the most innovative features that make the flagship handset so different from all other iPhones that Apple has debuted. — Valentina Palladino, Ars Technica, "Lovers of small iPhones might be rewarded with rumored next-gen SE 2," 18 Apr. 2018 Mulroney is also helping Markle keep the wedding fresh and modern, eschewing the conservative options proposed by the royal family. — Megan Friedman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Reportedly Has a Secret, Unofficial Wedding Planner," 3 Apr. 2018 Goggins eschews theatrics as the film’s chief villain, playing Mathias as a sullen profiteer. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Tomb Raider Is a Gritty Reboot of a Video-Game Classic," 15 Mar. 2018 Defensive end Brent Urban eschewed pending free agency this week to sign a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Ravens. — Jeff Zrebiec, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens defensive end Brent Urban to be guaranteed $1.1 million on new one-year deal," 9 Mar. 2018

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.