avoid

verb

ə-ˈvȯid How to pronounce avoid (audio)
Definition of avoidnext
1
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abolish
to put an end to by formal action asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb avoid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of avoid are elude, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When might elude be a better fit than avoid?

While the synonyms elude and avoid 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 it sensible to use escape instead of avoid?

The words escape and avoid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

In what contexts can eschew take the place of avoid?

The words eschew and avoid can be used in similar contexts, but eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of avoid?

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

evaded the question by changing the subject

Where would shun be a reasonable alternative to avoid?

While in some cases nearly identical to avoid, 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 avoid Conceal Tile Scratches Ceramic tile, marble, and linoleum surfaces are beautiful, but homeowners may avoid them due to fears of chips and scratches. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 25 May 2025 If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025 The officer recommended the Palestinians be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification. —Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025 The key question is whether the data behind digital twins is sound enough to avoid the pitfalls that result in data decay over time (i.e., entropy). —Mika Newton, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for avoid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoid
  1. evade
  2. abolish
  3. escape
  4. cancel
  5. prevent
  6. repeal
  7. eliminate
  8. overturn
Verb
  • The last few months have borne witness to AI systems learning to mislead, cheat, and try to evade shutdown—even resorting to blackmail.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 3 June 2025
  • Massey has evaded hundreds of authorities in a multistate manhunt.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • The initiative has its critics, who fear that abolishing property taxes would leave local governments without sufficient funds to support crucial public services.
    — Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
  • The latter is known for his misogynistic statements, and has promised to follow through on Mr. Yoon’s commitment to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality & Family.
    — Yejin Gim, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2025
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • But the Hurricanes escaped further trouble when Joey Urban — with runners on the corners — bounced into an inning-ending double play.
    — Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • According to the sheriff's office, the zebra escaped into a wooded area off Interstate 24 between Joe B. Jackson Parkway and the Epps Mill Road exits Saturday afternoon.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Definition of escape
Verb
  • The news came just days after the Trump administration canceled funding for Moderna to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic flu viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu, despite promising early study results.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2025
  • Musk has faced fierce backlash over his drastic cuts to the government's budget, including canceling thousands of federal jobs, and the dismantling of entire agencies.
    — Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Definition of cancel
Verb
  • This means implementing strong guardrails that prevent models from generating harmful content, engaging in deceptive practices, or making decisions that violate human rights.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Among them are those the provide access to transportation, prevent social isolation, deliver meals and offer assistance with Medicare and Medicaid.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
Definition of prevent
Verb
  • An effort to repeal the law completely did not advance the spring legislative session, while the vote for the delay came on the session’s last day.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
  • The group, known as the L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress, is hoping to persuade voters to repeal the ordinance.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Definition of repeal
Verb
  • That put the nearly 100-year-old vehicle hauling company out of business, eliminating about 2,500 jobs nationally.
    — Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The effortless Wunder Train High-rise Shorts 6-inch are now available for $39 and the perfect length to eliminate chafing for a more comfortable day of hiking, sightseeing, or traveling.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2025
Definition of eliminate
Verb
  • Foreign universities want to hire them May 25, 2025 The suit also seeks to overturn the Trump administration’s 15% cap on indirect costs related to research, which universities say are critical to carrying out their work.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • The suit, which hopes to overturn the law, argues that the city’s ordinance violates the First Amendment and does not apply to other forms of speech, like a political candidate asking for support or a church member proselytizing.
    — Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Definition of overturn

Browse Nearby Words

avocations
avoid
avoidable
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Cite this Entry

“Avoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoid. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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