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 As such, Ruben fires Sonny, but through a loophole Sonny is able to get behind the wheel in the last Formula One race of the season, giving the veteran driver one last chance to win an F1 race, which has eluded him his entire career. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 The honor somehow eluded his son Adam, a consistent slugger with 255 career homers. —Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 8 July 2025 Flores-Ruiz briefly eluded the federal immigration arrest inside the courthouse but agents caught up with him outside the building on April 18. —John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025 Basically eluding to or suggesting that President Trump was in the Epstein files. —Taylor Wilson, USA Today, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude
  1. evade
  2. avoid
  3. escape
Verb
  • Cromartie also took a plea deal for charges including strangulation, third degree assault of a police officer, first degree wanton endangerment, disarming a peace officer, fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest and violation of a foreign protective order, according to court records.
    — Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 18 July 2025
  • The first suspect, a 47-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, evading a police officer, conspiring to commit a crime, vehicle hit and run, parole violations and resisting arrest, according to a press release from the Redwood City Police Department.
    — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Close the blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows to block the sun's rays and avoid unwanted heat.
    — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • After all, avoiding some topics or questions altogether could be perceived as a political response, said Mark Riedl, a professor of computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • The project explores the tension between love and loneliness, questioning whether one escapes solitude by helping others find meaningful relationships.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 July 2025
  • Eventually, in a moment of crisis, Titch also escapes with him on it, kicking off what will become a wild continent-hopping odyssey.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of elude for Spanish Speakers

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