as in avoided
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
just a ruse to shun the debt collectors
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Recent Examples of shunned
It may have been shunned by Bridgerton, but Cheltenham is well worth a visit, not only for its period architecture and dreamy parks but for its independent spirit and lively event calendar.
—
Vicky Smith, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Before Mexico forced cargo airlines to start using Felipe Angeles in 2022, all the major international airlines had shunned the airport that is so far from the center of Mexico City that is can take 2 1/2 hours to drive to the terminal.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Mall shoppers favored familiar names over an unknown Japanese brand that shunned logos, ignored trends, and rarely marked down prices.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Record attack drone launches are designed to overwhelm Kyiv’s defenses, and the deaths of children in the city (another infant was killed in an apartment building alongside her mother Sunday) are the one thing Trump seems to feel acutely – bar being complimented or shunned by Putin.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Once shunned by investors who were drawn to an environmental, social and governance lens, defense assets have surged in popularity in light of geopolitical turmoil and pledges by Germany and other European Union members to ramp up defense spending.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
The leaders of North Korea, China and Russia met in a show of solidarity by nations shunned by the West over their role in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Europe’s worst conflict in 80 years.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The Migos rapper shunned the idea of ever getting married again following his split from Cardi B last year.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025
San Marcos coach Tom Carroll shunned a tying kick, going for a go-ahead 2-point PAT.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Vicky Smith, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Before Mexico forced cargo airlines to start using Felipe Angeles in 2022, all the major international airlines had shunned the airport that is so far from the center of Mexico City that is can take 2 1/2 hours to drive to the terminal.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Mall shoppers favored familiar names over an unknown Japanese brand that shunned logos, ignored trends, and rarely marked down prices.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Record attack drone launches are designed to overwhelm Kyiv’s defenses, and the deaths of children in the city (another infant was killed in an apartment building alongside her mother Sunday) are the one thing Trump seems to feel acutely – bar being complimented or shunned by Putin.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Once shunned by investors who were drawn to an environmental, social and governance lens, defense assets have surged in popularity in light of geopolitical turmoil and pledges by Germany and other European Union members to ramp up defense spending.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
The leaders of North Korea, China and Russia met in a show of solidarity by nations shunned by the West over their role in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Europe’s worst conflict in 80 years.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The Migos rapper shunned the idea of ever getting married again following his split from Cardi B last year.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025
San Marcos coach Tom Carroll shunned a tying kick, going for a go-ahead 2-point PAT.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shunned
Verb
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Since taking office, Kennedy has mostly avoided even rhetorically linking specific environmental exposures to health concerns.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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In fact, Iryna’s closest Ukrainian relatives have largely avoided the media since her death, due perhaps in part to a language barrier, but mainly because this combination of fresh horror and grief is too intense.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In Milwaukee, Kellner said that around 33% of bus riders have evaded paying fares in 2025 but that the agency has identified a few cost-neutral strategies targeted at reducing fare evasion down to 30% by September 2026, the same rate of evasion busses saw in 2024.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The big plays evaded the Eagles both through the air and on the ground.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On September 7, dog owner Brittany U'Wren was devastated to learn that her rescue Shitzu mix, named Lexi, had escaped through the garage and disappeared from her home in Lexington, Kentucky.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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The 1850 version mandated that the federal government actively help slave catchers track and apprehend people who’d escaped slavery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shunned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shunned. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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