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
Vampires represent those who have shunned their own humanity in order to achieve a nonexistent sense of superiority.
—
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 15 June 2026
Someone who was a bit more of a scientist, he was shunned.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 10 June 2026
Azcona, 47, said those who visit her botanica for blessings and spiritual cleansings have felt shunned in traditional religious settings, either because of their sexuality, tattoos or other factors.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Consumer staples, healthcare — The sectors were bright spots in Friday’s sell-off as investors shunned tech names for defensive corners of the market.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Although Eli could have divorced his wife, he would have been shunned by the Amish community.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
He was shunned by his homeland and called a traitor.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Everyone thinks that the family has, like, shunned him and won't have anything to do with him, but that's not actually the case.
—Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 31 May 2026
Lukashenko has few geopolitical friends left in Europe aside from Putin, largely shunned by his neighbors over his rights record and actions on Ukraine.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 15 June 2026
Someone who was a bit more of a scientist, he was shunned.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 10 June 2026
Azcona, 47, said those who visit her botanica for blessings and spiritual cleansings have felt shunned in traditional religious settings, either because of their sexuality, tattoos or other factors.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Consumer staples, healthcare — The sectors were bright spots in Friday’s sell-off as investors shunned tech names for defensive corners of the market.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Although Eli could have divorced his wife, he would have been shunned by the Amish community.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
He was shunned by his homeland and called a traitor.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Everyone thinks that the family has, like, shunned him and won't have anything to do with him, but that's not actually the case.
—Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 31 May 2026
Lukashenko has few geopolitical friends left in Europe aside from Putin, largely shunned by his neighbors over his rights record and actions on Ukraine.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shunned
Verb
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But in Brazil, the main terrestrial broadcaster, Globo, has avoided advertising.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Carter Jensen led off the game with a home run, and John Rave, Lane Thomas and Michael Massey also went deep as the Royals avoided a three-game sweep in Washington.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Minions have now evaded Wendy's.—
Bianca Harris,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
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Despite being a major 20th-century modernist, Galentz’s canvases have long-evaded definitive categorization.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Kansas City police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old man suspected of instigating a string of shootings Tuesday night, who has now escaped two standoffs with law enforcement.—
Ilana Arougheti
June 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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Over the course of a 60-yard run, Maradona danced past opponents, escaped challenges and left English defenders helpless before beating the goalkeeper with a clinical finish.—
Cesar R. Torres,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shunned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shunned. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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