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

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 He was charged with reckless driving, evading responsibility involving property damage, improper passing, failure to drive in the proper lane, following too closely resulting in an accident and first-degree reckless endangerment. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025 According to the complaint, Dugan allegedly sought to help Flores-Ruiz evade arrest by federal officers from an ICE task force. Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025 Trending Video Interior Designer Answers Living Room Design Questions From Instagram Remarkably, the home had managed to evade significant remodeling over its two-century lifespan. Laura May Todd, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2025 Mud-stained and beaten, Bronte manages to evade a drowning and refuses to give Joe the out of death. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for evade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evade
Verb
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Tesla needs Musk's technical brilliance but can't escape the collateral damage of his polarizing public persona.
    Allen Adamson, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Behind the Tigers’ strong start is Gleyber Torres’ subtle leadership Cade Cunningham, Pistons can’t escape growing pains that come with NBA playoffs Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Evade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evade. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on evade

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