Synonyms of evade

evade

verb

i-ˈvād 

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

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

Recent Examples of evade

There's also a few references that Kang and Kodos are simply hired actors in Treehouse of Horror, normalizing their position in the show and adding light and humor to the aliens, despite their penchant for world domination and evading dissection. —Grace Dean, Space.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Victims may only notice unauthorized transactions after substantial amounts have been taken from their accounts as scammers frequently conduct small, less noticeable withdrawals to evade fraud detection systems. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025

Existing missiles can carry multiple warheads or decoys, and many nuclear powers are developing new weapons that could evade defenses. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025

Data from the agency estimates that 33% of bus riders evaded paying fares in 2025. —Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025