Synonyms of elude

elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd 

as in to evade

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery

the millionaire had been eluding his fair share of taxes for years before getting caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

• evade
• avoid
• escape
• shun
• eschew
• prevent
• dodge
• shake
• deflect
• scape
• eliminate
• steer clear of
• shuffle (out of)
• finesse
• shirk
• keep clear of
• stay clear of
• fight shy of
• preclude
• thwart
• circumvent
• duck
• get around
• obviate
• exclude
• weasel (out of)
• avert
• miss
• ward (off)
• divert
• outwit
• rule out
• parry
• debar
• frustrate
• outsmart
• except
• ban
• bypass
• foil
• outfox
• fox
• bar
• overreach
• skirt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• seek
• accept
• pursue
• embrace
• welcome
• catch
• incur
• court
• contract

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb elude contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elude are avoid, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When can avoid be used instead of elude?

While the synonyms avoid and elude are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When would escape be a good substitute for elude?

In some situations, the words escape and elude are roughly equivalent. However, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

Where would eschew be a reasonable alternative to elude?

Although the words eschew and elude have much in common, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When is evade a more appropriate choice than elude?

The synonyms evade and elude are sometimes interchangeable, but evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When could shun be used to replace elude?

While in some cases nearly identical to elude, 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

Recent Examples of elude

Last offseason, Alonso was searching for a long-term contract that never arrived, but after leading the National League in doubles and hitting 38 home runs, his fifth consecutive season with more than 30, Alonso is back on the open market in search of the contract that eluded him last winter. —Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025

Indeed, his protagonists are now mostly men stuck in middle age or older, who have realized that purpose has permanently eluded them. —Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025

Is this the year Murray finally gets the All-Star recognition that’s eluded him? —Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025

Danna came in unblocked and didn’t allow Mariota to elude him. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025