elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd How to pronounce elude (audio)
Definition of eludenext
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery the millionaire had been eluding his fair share of taxes for years before getting caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb elude contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elude are avoid, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When can avoid be used instead of elude?

While the synonyms avoid and elude are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When would escape be a good substitute for elude?

In some situations, the words escape and elude are roughly equivalent. However, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

Where would eschew be a reasonable alternative to elude?

Although the words eschew and elude have much in common, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When is evade a more appropriate choice than elude?

The synonyms evade and elude are sometimes interchangeable, but evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When could shun be used to replace elude?

While in some cases nearly identical to elude, 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 elude After a win and a tie at Maine, and a victory over Quinnipiac in CT Ice, the Huskies were gathering enough wins to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, something that had eluded the program for so long. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025 Trump’s tough rhetoric is achieving results that eluded his predecessors. —Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2025 Killorn’s return pass eluded the long reach of Mason Lohrei, setting up Carlsson’s rising short-side shot. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2025 The Guardians will also look at lefty Logan Allen to retain the consistency that eluded him as a starter early last season. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude
  1. evade
  2. avoid
  3. escape
Verb
  • Security scrutinized: Suspect eluded officers protecting Shapiro Balmer started fires while troopers searched Troopers were able to safely evacuate Shapiro's family and others in the mansion, but the fire raises the question of how Balmer was able to evade security.
    — John Bacon, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Most of these are fine goals, and some (such as finally terminating the university’s efforts to evade a Supreme Court–ordered end to its use of race discrimination in admissions) ought to be uncontroversial.
    — The Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Ray reportedly pushed the Uber driver to the ground, and the pair escaped.
    — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of escape

Browse Nearby Words

elucidative
elude
eluded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elude. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of elude for Spanish Speakers

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