Synonym Chooser

How does the verb avoid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of avoid are elude, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When might elude be a better fit than avoid?

While the synonyms elude and avoid are close in meaning, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is it sensible to use escape instead of avoid?

The words escape and avoid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

In what contexts can eschew take the place of avoid?

The words eschew and avoid can be used in similar contexts, but eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of avoid?

In some situations, the words evade and avoid are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

Where would shun be a reasonable alternative to avoid?

While in some cases nearly identical to avoid, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of avoid Conceal Tile Scratches Ceramic tile, marble, and linoleum surfaces are beautiful, but homeowners may avoid them due to fears of chips and scratches. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 25 May 2025 If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025 The officer recommended the Palestinians be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification. Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025 The key question is whether the data behind digital twins is sound enough to avoid the pitfalls that result in data decay over time (i.e., entropy). Mika Newton, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for avoid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoid
Verb
  • The former prisoners who have continued to evade police for nearly a week include Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Lenton Vanburen and Antoine Massey, according to USA Today, while Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis have been re-arrested.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 22 May 2025
  • Penguin Press, June 17 Image El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott After skipping town to evade a nagging creditor in 2008, Harper returns to her Detroit suburb months later to find her two older sisters, once in the throes of debt, sporting fresh highlights and driving a Lexus.
    Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Currently 20 states have passed laws that would abolish clock changes if they are given permission to do so by the federal government.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mamés was full of tears of joy from Tottenham fans clad in white and players alike at the full-time whistle as the team abolished the reputation for not finishing big matches.
    David Close, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Also, take some time to examine the perimeter of your yard to ensure any gates and fences are secure and don’t have any gaps through which your pup can easily escape.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The focus shifts to Santino and Rosa, who quickly find that the initial euphoria of escaping routines doesn’t protect against relationship struggles.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • But this sort of work would require close collaboration with Chinese researchers, at just the time when those collaborations are being scrutinized or canceled.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
  • Panama's comptroller general and attorney general are now seeking to cancel CK Hutchison's concessions to its two Canal Zone ports.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Sanders signed legislation last month that prevents drug middlemen from owning pharmacies in Arkansas.
    Lucas Dufalla, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2025
  • As usual, handling the environment and dimensions of Dodger Stadium will be key, from catchers preventing balls in the dirt from going to the backstop to outfielders making catches in the sun.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The conservative view Many conservatives are determined to repeal or at least delay and dilute most of the clean energy breaks.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2025
  • Bill would end program in Texas On April 23, representatives of Texas Appleseed spoke at a committee hearing in support of House Bill 2609, which would repeal the Failure to Appear/Pay program.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • That put the nearly 100-year-old vehicle hauling company out of business, eliminating about 2,500 jobs nationally.
    Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The effortless Wunder Train High-rise Shorts 6-inch are now available for $39 and the perfect length to eliminate chafing for a more comfortable day of hiking, sightseeing, or traveling.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Foreign universities want to hire them May 25, 2025 The suit also seeks to overturn the Trump administration’s 15% cap on indirect costs related to research, which universities say are critical to carrying out their work.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • The suit, which hopes to overturn the law, argues that the city’s ordinance violates the First Amendment and does not apply to other forms of speech, like a political candidate asking for support or a church member proselytizing.
    Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Avoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoid. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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