shun

verb

ˈshən 

shunned; shunning

transitive verb

: to avoid deliberately and especially habitually

shuns publicity

shunner noun

Synonyms

• avoid
• dodge
• duck
• elude
• escape
• eschew
• evade
• finesse
• get around
• scape
• shake
• shirk
• shuffle (out of)
• weasel (out of)

Choose the Right Synonym for shun

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Examples of shun in a Sentence

He shuns parties and social events.

After his divorce he found himself being shunned by many of his former friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gen Zers and millennials have started to shun dating apps across the board. —Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 26 June 2025

The White House has shunned any suggestion Trump has lost faith in any member of his national security team — remarks that come amid reporting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also not played a key role in mapping out a response. —Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 21 June 2025

DSquared2 — founded and designed by identical twin brothers — is also shunning its typical high-octane party-style catwalk (in February the label marked its 30th anniversary with a performance from the Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer Doechii) and will instead stage an event. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

Rear seat occupants aren’t shunned as often occurs. —James Raia, Mercury News, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shonen, shunnen, from Old English scunian

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shun

• bun
• done
• dun
• fun
• gun
• hun
• jun
• none
• nun
• one
• pun
• run

Kids Definition

shun

verb

ˈshən 

shunned; shunning

: to avoid purposely or by habit

shunned her former friends

shunner noun