EVADE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'evade' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evade are avoid , elude , escape , eschew , and shun . While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding. // evaded the question by changing the subject

Q: When would 'avoid' be a good substitute for 'evade'?

While the synonyms avoid and evade are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty. // try to avoid past errors

Q: When is it sensible to use 'elude' instead of 'evade'?

In some situations, the words elude and evade are roughly equivalent. However, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes. // what she sees in him eludes me

Q: In what contexts can 'escape' take the place of 'evade'?

The meanings of escape and evade largely overlap; 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

Q: When could 'eschew' be used to replace 'evade'?

While in some cases nearly identical to evade , eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful. // a playwright who eschews melodrama

Q: When can 'shun' be used instead of 'evade'?

The words shun and evade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence. // you have shunned your responsibilities

evade

verb

i-ˈvād

Definition of evade next

as in to avoid

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery people who use every loophole in the law to evade paying taxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb evade contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evade are avoid, elude, escape, eschew, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would avoid be a good substitute for evade?

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

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of evade?

In some situations, the words elude and evade are roughly equivalent. However, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

In what contexts can escape take the place of evade?

The meanings of escape and evade largely overlap; 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

When could eschew be used to replace evade?

While in some cases nearly identical to evade, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can shun be used instead of evade?

The words shun and evade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 evade But even if the wealthy can’t evade the state’s taxing agencies, its passage would send the wrong message to wealth creators. —

The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 7 May 2026 Committee Democrats asked Lutnick repeatedly about that visit, but came away from the interview frustrated with Lutnick and accused him of evading their questions. —

Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Abbushi was on post release community supervision and had an outstanding felony warrant for evading a police officer in another Bay Area county, the Sheriff's Office said. —

Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 May 2026 The French forward’s cross just evaded an onrushing Ada Hegerberg. —

Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for evade

Recent Examples of Synonyms for evade

Verb

The Dodgers avoided their second shutout loss of the season and finally gave the crowd of 50,209 reason to cheer in the ninth when Andy Pages belted a two-run home run — his ninth of the season — off reliever Reynoldo Lopez.

— Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The Lakers will try to avoid being the all-too-likely 162nd.

— Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026