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

Wang said that Silicon Valley has lost some of its appetite for founders who build hardware products, shunning the longer development cycles and less return upside, compared with AI applications, as well as inevitable supply chain hurdles. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 July 2026

After the Hollywood studios shunned Cannes with big ticket titles, Apple Studios is bringing Heder’s adaptation of disability rights activist Judy Heumann’s best-selling memoir of the same name, with Ruth Madeley in the titular role as Judy Heumann. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026

Camilla, who was once shunned by the public, eventually won over many royal watchers through her charitable work and support of the king. — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Opting to take a lineout from a handy penalty — a theme of the first round in which teams generally have shunned kicks at goal — Scotland probed the narrow side then scored on the open side through Brown to make the lead nine points. — ABC News, 4 July 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