Synonym Chooser

How does the verb evade contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evade are avoid, elude, escape, eschew, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would avoid be a good substitute for evade?

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

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of evade?

In some situations, the words elude and evade are roughly equivalent. However, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

In what contexts can escape take the place of evade?

The meanings of escape and evade largely overlap; 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

When could eschew be used to replace evade?

While in some cases nearly identical to evade, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can shun be used instead of evade?

The words shun and evade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 of evade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Authorities soon found Machado-Hernandez hiding in the back of his brother's vehicle, a black Kia SUV, after attempting to evade police by changing cars. Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024 Tax fraud is another common tactic, with perpetrators filing false tax returns under a business’s name to secure refunds or evade taxes. Brandon Spear, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Both men have tried to ignore or evade multiple legal challenges. Stephanie McNulty & Sarah Chartock / Made By History, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024 In Southern California — a region that endures some of the highest levels of air pollution in the nation — evading harmful emissions can be a challenge. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for evade 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'evade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near evade

Cite this Entry

“Evade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evade. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on evade

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