AVOIDS Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

avoids

verb

present tense third-person singular of avoid

as in evades

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abolishes

to put an end to by formal action asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 avoids Settling at concept stage which layers can share, and which cannot, avoids both. — Stephen Farrugia, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Interestingly, the system stays within existing 18 kV power equipment limits and avoids costly requalifications of subsea infrastructure. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 The timing of the search also elicited pushback from Democrats as the Justice Department typically avoids taking major investigative actions like the execution of a warrant within 60 days of an election. — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Oct. 2026 This game may come down to whichever team controls the clock and avoids turnovers. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Setting the shifting moods expertly is Michael Giacchino’s score that nicely avoids the clichés of the genre(s) while still honoring them. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 Musk’s forthright, crusty dad Errol sounds almost proud that something was bullied out of his son, but the movie avoids filling out that traumatic childhood. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The enclosure feels rigid with tight panel gaps and a clean industrial design that avoids looking overly rugged or utilitarian. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 The film primarily follows Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), a Facebook employee in the company’s civic integrity team, the group tasked with making sure Facebook acts responsibly and avoids the harmful impacts of its product. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoids

Verb

Neither of those interpretations would be entirely invalid, exactly, and yet The Basics of Philosophy — ironically enough, given its title — mostly evades any such moral didacticism.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Journalists and negotiators follow up when someone evades the point.

— Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of evades

Verb

The Schengen Area is an agreement between 29 European countries that abolishes passport controls and allows people to travel across European borders without providing documents.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Attorney Monica Restanio, whose arguments in court for the Venezuelan family were responsible for winning the ruling that abolishes the minor issue, said she was thrilled.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 29 July 2026

Definition of abolishes

Verb

The program cancels outstanding debt for eligible borrowers who make 120 monthly payments, or 10 years of participation.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
The Katherine, Timon and Marissa Balloo’s neighborhood sit-down, charges a $25-a-person no-show fee to anyone who cancels after noon on the day of their reservation.

— Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of cancels

Verb

Barnes is cold-based, and thus frozen directly onto the bedrock beneath it, which prevents it from sliding.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
This method prevents nitrogen from diluting the exhaust gas, which hinders combustion and keeps the CO₂ concentration relatively low.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of prevents

Verb

Florida’s next governor will have the final say over whether the state repeals the law, along with a litany of other gun issues.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026
The law also repeals the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act’s senior manager provisions.

— Nana Ama Sarfo, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of repeals

Verb

The settlement eliminates the need to resolve that remaining question at trial.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
If the Tax Court agrees that rescheduling eliminates section 280E liability for past years, cannabis businesses could seek refunds for multiple prior tax years.

— Carolyn Schenck, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of eliminates

Verb

Baksheng leaves behind a family and then creates a new one with other Teochew emigrants at an inn run by a feminist daughter, Zia Lamgi (Li Sitong) who dodges a revolving door of suitors.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2026
West Orange dodges a huge bullet as Hoban’s John Johnson drops a wide open pass that would’ve been an 80 yard touchdown.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of dodges

Browse Nearby Words

avoiding

avoids

avoirdupois

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Style

“Avoids.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoids. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of avoids

verb

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