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 Deepfakes, in particular, elude straightforward classification and regulation, despite their growing threat profile. —Metin Kortak, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 Jail records show Denis, who is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, is also facing fleeing and eluding and aggravated battery charges. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025 The only one that still eludes him from the career Grand Slam is the French Open. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025 Dakota has displayed remarkable versatility over the course of her career, but a true, out-and-out villain role has so far eluded her. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude
  1. evade
  2. avoid
  3. escape
Verb
  • According to one speaker, removing those guardrails and creating a dedicated non-public LLM can be an effective way to create malware and devise techniques for evading antivirus detection.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The rivers and waterways of Klong Root are seen in the penultimate scenes of Jurassic World Rebirth, as protagonists Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) and Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) attempt to evade dinosaurs by paddling downriver.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 July 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Close the blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows to block the sun's rays and avoid unwanted heat.
    — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • In his exit memo, Bennett urged the commission to avoid micromanaging the negotiation process and instead focus on big-picture policy, public engagement and trust-building.
    — Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2025
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Playing their third road game in five days, the expansion team nearly fumbled a 17-point, first-half lead but got enough stops down the stretch to escape with a 68-67 win over the Washington Mystics on Thursday.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 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 6 Aug. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of elude for Spanish Speakers

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