as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
this shunning of your financial responsibilities cannot continue indefinitely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
just a ruse to shun the debt collectors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 shunning
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Joe McKendrick,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Gas prices in focus for Memorial Day travel Just a few years ago, the auto industry was largely shunning big engines in favor of more fuel efficient powertrains.
—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Special occasions celebrators, romantic weekenders, limelight-shunning VIPs, and families who want to be by the water can all be found lounging around the resort.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
But the end of colonial rule galvanized a new frontier spirit around booze, with Americans shunning the sherry, port, and brandy favored by the stiff Europeans, and instead leaning into their own hooch created by a mash of whatever grains were on hand.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 May 2026
Audiences shunning the movie — which was released across more than 1,000 theaters in the US — is a reminder that art is tricky, even as the kingdom pours billions into building a film industry.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
One group ripe for shunning is broadcasters such as Carlson and Alex Jones, who has also reacted strongly to the Iran war.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
The concept, in its original form, described a tendency on the political left to react to minor ideological or linguistic offenses by demanding firings or social shunning, demands often reinforced by outraged social-media mobs.
—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
30 Dec. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country.
—
Arthur Allen,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Employees aren’t exactly shunning their new coworkers, and in some cases may even be developing unhealthy relationships.
—
Joe McKendrick,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Gas prices in focus for Memorial Day travel Just a few years ago, the auto industry was largely shunning big engines in favor of more fuel efficient powertrains.
—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Special occasions celebrators, romantic weekenders, limelight-shunning VIPs, and families who want to be by the water can all be found lounging around the resort.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
But the end of colonial rule galvanized a new frontier spirit around booze, with Americans shunning the sherry, port, and brandy favored by the stiff Europeans, and instead leaning into their own hooch created by a mash of whatever grains were on hand.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 May 2026
Audiences shunning the movie — which was released across more than 1,000 theaters in the US — is a reminder that art is tricky, even as the kingdom pours billions into building a film industry.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
One group ripe for shunning is broadcasters such as Carlson and Alex Jones, who has also reacted strongly to the Iran war.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Biya’s government has been accused of shunning dialogue with the separatists.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shunning
Noun
-
The guests’ request for an escape-room experience, while annoying, is much more understandable.
-
This small city on Florida’s central Gulf Coast offers an escape everyone in the family will enjoy, from toddlers all the way up to the grandparents.
Verb
-
While technical expertise is crucial, successfully landing remote AI jobs also requires strategic searching, understanding employer terminology, and avoiding scams.
-
Petrakakos said arrangements around possible tolls or coordination with Iran remain largely ad hoc, with most shipping companies avoiding direct engagement because of sanctions risk.
Noun
-
Her remedy isn't avoidance, but direct conversation—giving people space to talk through what went wrong before launching the next effort.
-
Substance abuse is greatly detrimental in its own right, of course, but sometimes the issues that stem from it—stress, emotional exhaustion, secrecy, avoidance—can have similarly devastating long-term effects on a person’s wellbeing.
Verb
-
The suspect, 30‑year‑old Trevion Mark of Fort Worth, was arrested nearby without incident and charged with reckless endangerment and evading arrest in a motor vehicle, according to DPS.
-
Mark was charged with reckless endangerment and evading arrest in a motor vehicle and booked into the Tarrant County Jail.
Noun
-
In the early days of the republic, there were many radicals and reformers who shared my suspicion that patriotism was an evasion, substituting songs and speeches about liberty for the reality.
-
The electoral authority based the candidate bans on a law against corrupt practices that in previous years saw some parliamentary seats bought with money linked to drug trafficking, corruption and tax evasion.
Verb
-
The combination remained effective because escaping both antibodies required multiple simultaneous mutations rather than a single genetic change.
-
Workers were able to prevent more than 1,000 other monkeys at the facility from escaping.
Cite this Entry
“Shunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shunning. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
