ELUDE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd

Definition of elude next

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

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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

Examples 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 Then midway through the fourth quarter, Levis hit an easy throw to Chig Okonkwo and the tight end eluded a seemingly missing Texans defense for a 70-yard TD connection. —

Larry Holder, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 Even after a win in the Summit League title game eluded them, they were granted the No. 3 overall seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament — the program’s highest ever — because of everything that came before it. —

Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2024 His ultimate goal may have eluded him, but Ricciardo put together a resumé that would be the envy of many drivers over the course of his 15-year F1 journey. —

Sam Joseph, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024 Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, who was arrested in Wales with assistance from British authorities, was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List in 2009 after eluding capture. —

Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for elude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude

Verb

At that February hearing, Judge Bowen dismissed an evading police charge, finding that the pursuing Richmond officer had failed to activate his siren during the brief chase.

Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
The post-election honeymoon period is officially over. Democrats and Republicans were back to trading barbs this week as both parties tried to evade blame for a near government shut down.

Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024