ESCHEW Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

eschew

verb

e-ˈshü

Definition of eschew next

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 Collectors—the good ones, anyway—have started to look for value, advisers have told ARTnews, eschewing the figurative work that has more recently dominated the market for works on the margins of art history. —

Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 Jan. 2025 The burglars allegedly eschewed large items such as televisions or electronics in favor of jewelry, cash and high-end purses. —

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Since then, many craft beer drinkers, who often like to eschew beer from large multinational breweries, stopped using the site. —

Don Tse, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Schrader’s take on the landmark horror franchise was to strongly emphasize its theological foundation and to eschew the traditional jump scares, a choice that frightened Morgan Creek Productions, which initially shelved the film over concerns about its commercial viability. —

Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for eschew

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eschew

Verb

In a post on X, the NYPD asked people to avoid the area as the investigation proceeded.

— Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
While Janice avoids even visiting Eric in prison, she is torn between cleaning out his room and grappling with the role of faith and religion.

— Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2025