escape 1 of 2

Definition of escapenext

escape

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb escape contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of escape are avoid, elude, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words 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

When could avoid be used to replace escape?

The words avoid and escape can be used in similar contexts, but avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of escape?

The words elude and escape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is eschew a more appropriate choice than escape?

While in some cases nearly identical to escape, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of escape?

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

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would shun be a good substitute for escape?

The meanings of shun and escape largely overlap; however, 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 escape
Verb
The house is basically painted all white everywhere but somehow escapes being bland. Clio Chang, Curbed, 17 May 2026 While the early scenes radiate the relaxed ease of sisterhood escaping a harsh reality, the tone shifts to a darker register, both emotionally and visually. Jay Weissberg, Variety, 17 May 2026
Noun
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene talks about Birmingham with native Jenny Adams, uncovering the restaurants, parks, and history that make this three‑hour escape from Nashville a must‑visit. AFAR Media, 15 May 2026 This backyard escape captures all the charm of a storybook cottage with the stone patio, shake siding, and old-fashioned strap hinges on the shutters. Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for escape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escape
Verb
  • That night, both the President and his wife periodically fled upstairs to check on their most beloved son, the eleven-year-old Willie, sick with a fever that would kill him two weeks later.
    Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Prosecutors said that bystanders dialed 911 during the attack, but McHenry fled the scene, the outlet reported.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Deception is used to evade responsibility, manipulate a partner or conceal betrayal.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • My muscles on fire with tension, sleep evaded me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Direct flights from South Korea, Russia, China, Thailand, and Singapore have added to this area’s tourism boom.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
  • When disruption hits, travelers are on their own The survey paints a stark picture of what actually happens when a flight goes sideways.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Mendoza has been charged with two counts of felony evasion and one misdemeanor count of battery on a police officer.
    Tim Fang, CBS News, 7 May 2026
  • The indictment charges Meade with one count of tax evasion and six counts of failure to file a tax return.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when the bullets started flying outside the Southern Blvd.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
  • For now, though, SLS is the only rocket powerful enough and certified to fly Orion to the moon.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The problem is, when your side lack intensity, aggression and cohesion, those traps are easy to spot and avoid.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • October 23 – November 21 The real conversation is probably the one everyone has been avoiding.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • From breezy linen pants to packable layers and day-to-night dresses, these pieces are designed to keep you cool and stylish on city breaks and tropical getaways alike.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
  • Divers found the boy within a few minutes of starting their search along the break wall.
    Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Activist spirits might dismiss this emphasis on the purely sonic as a strategy of avoidance, although the likes of Feizabadi and Kourliandski can’t be accused of sitting idly by.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • At its most fundamental, disgust is a pathogen-avoidance mechanism.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escape. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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