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

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 elude Arellano Díaz was arrested on July 29, in Newport Beach, but came close to eluding capture once again. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025 As the driver tried to elude officers, a Livonia Police Department patrol car equipped with a Grappler device was dispatched to stop the vehicle. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Even on the fake punt, the USF receiver eluded three potential tackles. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025 In March 2020, Mitchell was charged in Wyandotte County with fleeing or attempting to elude an accident, interference with a law enforcement officer, failing to provide required information/aid at an accident scene, and reckless driving. Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude
Verb
  • The discovery adds a new dimension to understanding cancer and therapy resistance, where cells often evade treatment by shifting states.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But Moscow has found ways to evade these.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With roughly 180 resorts spread across its atolls, there are dozens of worthy five-star escapes to choose from.
    Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Auger-Aliassime played some of his best tennis since the early 2020s in the second and fourth sets, winning the former and having Sinner on the edge of going a break down for 3-1 in the latter, before the Italian escaped.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Elude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elude. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elude

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