eschew

verb

e-ˈshü How to pronounce eschew (audio)
Definition of eschewnext
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery the minister eschews involvement in local politics, since he doesn't want to diminish his moral authority in the community

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb eschew contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of eschew are avoid, elude, escape, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Where would avoid be a reasonable alternative to eschew?

The meanings of avoid and eschew largely overlap; however, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When is elude a more appropriate choice than eschew?

The words elude and eschew are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When could escape be used to replace eschew?

While the synonyms escape and eschew are close in meaning, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

When is it sensible to use evade instead of eschew?

The words evade and eschew can be used in similar contexts, but evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would shun be a good substitute for eschew?

Although the words shun and eschew have much in common, 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 eschew And yet, today’s young adults are increasingly eschewing the traditional banking and credit infrastructure altogether in favor of peer-to-peer payment apps. —Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2025 But Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton appears to be 100% vegan, eschewing any type of meat. —Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The media-savvy governor has largely eschewed public press events in recent months and instead turned to the microphone. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Casual attire is a part of the Democrat's brand, eschewing tailoring in an attempt to appeal to rural voters in the Keystone State. —James Powel, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eschew
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eschew
  1. avoid
  2. evade
  3. escape
Verb
  • Facing the Marlins for the second time in a week, the Mets (7-3) avoided facing ace Sandy Alcantara, with the 2022 Cy Young Award winner having been added to the paternity list earlier in the day.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In another legend, the monk was said to have cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep during his meditation, one explanation for the doll’s wide-eyed stare.
    — Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of avoid
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
  • In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of trying to evade the framework of the original ceasefire agreement that both sides agreed to in January.
    — Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of evade
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

Browse Nearby Words

escarpments
eschew
eschewal
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Cite this Entry

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

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