evade

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