1
as in evading
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abolishing
to put an end to by formal action
asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 avoiding
There should be visibility into how the AI works, which means avoiding black box solutions.
—
Tomas Gorny, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
McClary said there has been a surge in Americans coming to his nonprofit group and partners across the country to seek help on managing debt and avoiding bankruptcy and debt collectors.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 18 June 2026
Brazilian fans visiting Philadelphia for the World Cup are avoiding dressing the Rocky statue in their team colors.
—CBS News, 18 June 2026
Next, backfill the soil around the roots, avoiding covering the crown.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
The drone filmed from the north and south ends of the channel and shot an FWC boat travelling around the same speed that Pino’s Robalo was going on the day of the crash and the same path before avoiding the piling at the last second.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
That means avoiding sticking to one type of organizational solution—such as hooks or baskets—and trying a mix of options.
—Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
Under this transit, you could be getting called out for avoiding the fact that your current reality isn’t up to par with your professional image.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
The leaders of China and North Korea reaffirmed their alliance this week in Pyongyang, emphasizing strategic cooperation while avoiding public discussion of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
—Jennifer Pak, NPR, 10 June 2026
Tomas Gorny, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
McClary said there has been a surge in Americans coming to his nonprofit group and partners across the country to seek help on managing debt and avoiding bankruptcy and debt collectors.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 18 June 2026
Brazilian fans visiting Philadelphia for the World Cup are avoiding dressing the Rocky statue in their team colors.
—CBS News, 18 June 2026
Next, backfill the soil around the roots, avoiding covering the crown.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
The drone filmed from the north and south ends of the channel and shot an FWC boat travelling around the same speed that Pino’s Robalo was going on the day of the crash and the same path before avoiding the piling at the last second.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
That means avoiding sticking to one type of organizational solution—such as hooks or baskets—and trying a mix of options.
—Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
Under this transit, you could be getting called out for avoiding the fact that your current reality isn’t up to par with your professional image.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
The leaders of China and North Korea reaffirmed their alliance this week in Pyongyang, emphasizing strategic cooperation while avoiding public discussion of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
—Jennifer Pak, NPR, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoiding
Verb
-
She was later arrested on suspicion of evading police and assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, investigators said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
Daniels later pleaded no contest to evading a police officer, court records show, in a deal that saw prosecutors dismiss numerous other charges, including second degree burglary of a vehicle and four counts of assault on a police officer.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
In 1926, diplomats gathered beneath the high ceilings of the League of Nations in Geneva to draft the world's first international treaty abolishing slavery.—
Nicole F. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
His Green New Scam surrendered American Energy Dominance and, by abolishing the Southern Border, Biden let 21 million people from all over the World pour into the United States, including from prisons, jails, mental institutions, and insane asylums.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Some were seen walking away after escaping the aircraft.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
The film centers on three women in a remote Bangladeshi village – blind Momi, schoolgirl Hima, and pregnant Laili – who dream of escaping a world shaped by superstition and religious conservatism, with consequences that grow increasingly dire for each of them.—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Council members narrowly passed the ordinance repealing the ban by a 7-5 vote, with some voting against the measure as a form of protest.—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
And yet, Mamdani found time to talk about the Knicks’ playoff run, including repealing bedtime so children could watch the NBA Finals.—
David Ingber,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Clark finished with 21 points, forcing Toronto to respect her scoring ability and preventing defenders from keying solely on her passing.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
-
The maggots are thought to secrete various antibacterial compounds to ward off pathogenic bacteria and block biofilms from forming, overall preventing secondary infection.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Their relief at the reopening of the Hormuz reopening is real, but none of the major producers are canceling their pipeline feasibility studies.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
In the last decade or so, network TV channels have reduced their late-night talk-show lineups, most recently with CBS canceling The Late Show.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
But three months later, Cardi was dodging rumors that Offset was cheating when a video of him emerged reportedly showing him in bed with another woman.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 June 2026
-
Joseph’s attorneys recently accused Ball of dodging their requests and rescheduling too many depositions, where attorneys could ask Ball questions ahead of trial.—
Julia Coin
June 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Within a year, the Legislature beefed up safety regulations on mobile homes, requiring them to be secured with anchors and tie-downs to prevent overturning and sliding during heavy winds.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
While exceptionally rare, there is recent precedent for Missouri courts overturning elections.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avoiding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoiding. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
