shun

verb

ˈshən 

shunned; shunning

transitive verb

: to avoid deliberately and especially habitually

shuns publicity

shunner noun

Synonyms of shun

• avoid
• evade
• escape

Choose the Right Synonym for shun

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 shun in a Sentence

He shuns parties and social events.

After his divorce he found himself being shunned by many of his former friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet, Zero Sugar’s branding resonates more with younger, wellness-minded consumers, who shun sugar but don’t vibe with calorie counting or diet culture. —Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026

And a whole succession of leaders from countries that are nominally still American allies — Britain, Germany, South Korea — are wooing rather than shunning Beijing to deepen economic cooperation. —Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026

Her wedding was scheduled to take place six months from then, and Ens wouldn't be allowed to attend the nuptials if she was shunned. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026

As an increasing number of parents and young people shun smartphones, more than half of states across the country have imposed restrictions on cellphones in schools. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shonen, shunnen, from Old English scunian

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shun

• bun
• done
• dun
• fun
• gun
• hun
• jun
• none
• nun
• one
• pun
• run

Kids Definition

shun

verb

ˈshən 

shunned; shunning

: to avoid purposely or by habit

shunned her former friends

shunner noun