as in avoided
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
just a ruse to shun the debt collectors
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Recent Examples of shunned
Reportedly shunned by festivals like Sundance and SXSW last year and ignored by distributors, this provocative chamber drama finally gets a theatrical release from a fledgling shingle, Obscured Releasing, this spring.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Graham eventually created a work called Heretic about a nonconformist woman who is shunned by her community.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
Ryan and his family were shunned by the community.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
After President Vladimir Putin ordered his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union — once Moscow’s biggest customer — stopped taking Russian oil, and many Western customers also shunned it.
—David McHugh, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are reportedly now basically waiting to see what’s next for them after their parents have been completely shunned.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Mar. 2026
After President Vladimir Putin ordered his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union — once Moscow’s biggest customer — stopped taking Russian oil, and many Western customers also shunned it.
—David McHugh, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Russia-friendly states Hungary and Slovakia have shunned efforts to outlaw Russian supplies, and have continued to import Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, and gas via associated transit lines, that run through Ukraine.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
The popularity of Bar Panisse perhaps dispels one fear the restaurateurs might’ve had – that the place would be shunned by the community, after Waters terminated the lease of longtime tapas restaurant Cesar to make space for her new endeavor.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Graham eventually created a work called Heretic about a nonconformist woman who is shunned by her community.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
Ryan and his family were shunned by the community.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
After President Vladimir Putin ordered his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union — once Moscow’s biggest customer — stopped taking Russian oil, and many Western customers also shunned it.
—David McHugh, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are reportedly now basically waiting to see what’s next for them after their parents have been completely shunned.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Mar. 2026
After President Vladimir Putin ordered his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union — once Moscow’s biggest customer — stopped taking Russian oil, and many Western customers also shunned it.
—David McHugh, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Russia-friendly states Hungary and Slovakia have shunned efforts to outlaw Russian supplies, and have continued to import Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, and gas via associated transit lines, that run through Ukraine.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
The popularity of Bar Panisse perhaps dispels one fear the restaurateurs might’ve had – that the place would be shunned by the community, after Waters terminated the lease of longtime tapas restaurant Cesar to make space for her new endeavor.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shunned
Verb
-
Petty crime, like pickpocketing and phone theft, is more common in Paris and can be easily avoided.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Crown and root rots are easily avoided through proper plant siting to ensure adequate soil drainage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This was an incredibly complex and dangerous operation for the rescue team and for that missing Air Force aviator who had evaded capture behind enemy lines for days.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Kiki Rice then hit a series of free throws and UCLA evaded Texas’ fourth-quarter comeback effort after the Longhorns went on a 12-2 run.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In one instance, a detainee escaped when there was no staff assigned to watch the perimeter fences.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Vivian smooths any potential strands that may have escaped from her low bun and then brushes up the steep stone steps to the front door.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shunned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shunned. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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