elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd How to pronounce elude (audio)
Definition of eludenext
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery the millionaire had been eluding his fair share of taxes for years before getting caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb elude contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elude are avoid, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When can avoid be used instead of elude?

While the synonyms avoid and elude are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When would escape be a good substitute for elude?

In some situations, the words escape and elude are roughly equivalent. 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

Where would eschew be a reasonable alternative to elude?

Although the words eschew and elude have much in common, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When is evade a more appropriate choice than elude?

The synonyms evade and elude are sometimes interchangeable, but evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When could shun be used to replace elude?

While in some cases nearly identical to elude, 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 elude Crochet recently signed a six-year, $170 million deal with the Red Sox that should keep him in Boston through 2031, the kind of long-term security that eluded him in Chicago. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025 Sheriff’s deputies have apprehended the 32-year-old man who allegedly eluded officers trying to arrest him, rammed a Boise police patrol car and led law enforcement on a pursuit into Kuna last week. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2025 There are immediate tangible demands that require a clarity of mind that eludes him. —David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025 Fedotov had some decent games from time to time, but consistency eluded him. —Scott Powers, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude
  1. evade
  2. avoid
  3. escape
Verb
  • The key benefits of integration include: • Enhanced Threat Detection: By unifying security tools, organizations can achieve a holistic view of their threat landscape, enabling the identification of sophisticated attacks that might evade stand-alone systems.
    — Bob Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended a judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • While they were gone, the tiny dog escaped and sprinted off into the wilderness.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 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
Definition of escape

Browse Nearby Words

elucidative
elude
eluded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elude. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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