AVOID Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of avoid are elude , escape , eschew , evade , and shun . While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty. // try to avoid past errors

Q: When might 'elude' be a better fit than 'avoid'?

While the synonyms elude and avoid are close in meaning, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes. // what she sees in him eludes me

Q: When is it sensible to use 'escape' instead of 'avoid'?

The words escape and avoid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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: In what contexts can 'eschew' take the place of 'avoid'?

The words eschew and avoid can be used in similar contexts, but eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful. // a playwright who eschews melodrama

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

In some situations, the words evade and avoid are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding. // evaded the question by changing the subject

Q: Where would 'shun' be a reasonable alternative to 'avoid'?

While in some cases nearly identical to avoid , shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence. // you have shunned your responsibilities

avoid

verb

ə-ˈvȯid

Definition of avoid next

as in to evade

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb avoid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of avoid are elude, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When might elude be a better fit than avoid?

While the synonyms elude and avoid are close in meaning, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is it sensible to use escape instead of avoid?

The words escape and avoid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

In what contexts can eschew take the place of avoid?

The words eschew and avoid can be used in similar contexts, but eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of avoid?

In some situations, the words evade and avoid are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

Where would shun be a reasonable alternative to avoid?

While in some cases nearly identical to avoid, 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 avoid Only the return of Staley, who decided to stay after visiting the transfer portal, avoided a complete rebuild. —

Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026 Pack a Carry-on Only Often, Crook says, avoiding the check-in line altogether is your best option. —

Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026 If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road. —

Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2026 The contract situation forced the Bulls into a full teardown, something Karnišovas ardently avoided in prior seasons. —

Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for avoid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoid

Verb

Somehow their petition—miraculously evading Confederate interception and traveling, via the Bahamas, to Washington—arrived on the Navy secretary’s desk, though they likely weren’t released until the end of the war.

— Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Edwards, who trains such police departments as the New York Police Department on drone threat mitigation, points to fiber-optic drones that can evade radio frequency detection systems as a particular concern.

— Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026

Definition of evade

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avocations

avoid

avoidable

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“Avoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoid. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 12 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of avoid

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