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

Relevance

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 Some American manufacturers also began moving production facilities over the border in a bid to avoid Canada’s retaliatory import duties. —Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Though the United States avoided a direct repeat of 1987’s Black Monday, the market will likely remain highly volatile for the rest of the week. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Apr. 2025 Soundproofing your apartment and crate-training your pup will help your dog bark less and avoid complaints from angry neighbors. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 In the censure debate on Tuesday, opposition MPs reportedly questioned the prime minister’s knowledge gaps and accused her of avoiding questions from reporters. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 26 Mar. 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
  • Prostate cancer treatment Cancer employs various tactics to evade the immune system, including producing checkpoint proteins that inhibit T cells from eliminating threats.
    — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2025
  • But then that peripheral shooter will get lucky, evade three hits in a row, and suddenly the boss, perhaps sensing a soft target, is at that fighter's back.
    — Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R.) has signed legislation to abolish the state’s income tax.
    — Douglas Carswell, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Democrats who previously demanded that the Senate abolish the filibuster are now furious that the party didn’t use it.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2025
  • No one was harmed during the incident, and the suspect escaped.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of escape
Verb
  • The government last month canceled $400 million in funding for Columbia and threatened to withhold billions more, accusing the university in New York of not doing enough to combat antisemitism and to ensure student safety amid last year's Gaza encampment campus protests.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Titans recently cancelled pre-draft workouts with Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, all but guaranteeing that Ward is the pick here.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of cancel
Verb
  • In remarks outside of Congress on Monday afternoon, Bowser called on lawmakers to change the language in the stopgap plan, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), to prevent the District from being forced to revert to the previous fiscal year’s funding levels.
    — Aris Folley, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2025
  • It's also advised to check the condition of the brine tank since salt bridges can form over time, preventing the resin beads from softening the water.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of prevent
Verb
  • The program also receives about 5% of its revenue from interest generated by its trust funds and about 4% of its revenue from the tax that Trump wants to repeal.
    — Dennis W. Jansen, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • President Donald Trump this week issued a sweeping directive ordering federal agencies to repeal regulations that conflict with recent Supreme Court rulings.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of repeal
Verb
  • Pope Francis’s tweaks are mostly focused on simplifying the ceremonies and eliminating unnecessary ornamentation.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Feb. 2025
  • There has been staunch opposition from Republicans, who have introduced legislation of their own to water down or even eliminate home rule for the District of Columbia.
    — Qasim Nauman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of eliminate
Verb
  • The decision overturned a lower court ruling that had required their reinstatement, supporting Trump's efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • He was released after a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the kidnapping and killing of Camarena.
    — Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of overturn

Browse Nearby Words

avocations
avoid
avoidable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Avoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoid. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on avoid

Nglish: Translation of avoid for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All