shun

verb

ˈshən How to pronounce shun (audio)
Definition of shunnext
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery just a ruse to shun the debt collectors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shun contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shun are avoid, elude, escape, eschew, and evade. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

Where would avoid be a reasonable alternative to shun?

In some situations, the words avoid and shun are roughly equivalent. However, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When can elude be used instead of shun?

While the synonyms elude and shun 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 escape a more appropriate choice than shun?

The synonyms escape and shun are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 might eschew be a better fit than shun?

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

a playwright who eschews melodrama

In what contexts can evade take the place of shun?

Although the words evade and shun have much in common, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

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 shun Or Donald Trump, who is said to go up to sixteen hours without eating, avoiding breakfast and often shunning lunch before gorging on a dinner of two Big Macs and two Filets-O-Fish, washed down with a chocolate shake. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 21 July 2025 More teenagers are shunning traditional media outlets and getting their news from social media, according to a 2024 report from Ofcom. —Ritika Gupta, CNBC, 18 July 2025 Many leaders pride themselves on reading about strategy and innovation while intentionally shunning literature that highlights the human dynamics that make or break every strategic initiative. —Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 In the past, then, corporate ownership meant former craft operations were shunned. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for shun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shun
  1. avoid
  2. evade
  3. escape
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
  • 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
  • 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

shuls
shun
shunned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shun. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shun

Nglish: Translation of shun for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shun

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