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

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

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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 Netflix has long had a corporate culture that largely eschewed layoffs (the cuts earlier this week were its first in four years) but favored individual teams making changes as needed. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 Others found any excuse to eschew their meal plan and spend a few Flex dollars at the Taco Bell in Hutchinson Commons at the Reynolds Club instead. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Under the leadership of the longtime chief gemologist and vice president, the house highlighted American gemstones at a time when European jewelers mostly eschewed them in favor of more stones from more traditional sources. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026 Most eschew cameras while offering the same audio and AI features as the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, and add an in-lens display that can show you visual information as well. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eschew

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eschew

Verb

Following her death, Trail dismembered Loofe’s body to avoid getting caught.

— Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Better monitoring tools can help farmers identify disease threats earlier and avoid expensive eradication campaigns.

— Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

But not all Chicagoans have the luxury of adjusting their schedules to evade the darkness, said Gina Scaletta, who has been walking dogs for more than a decade.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Adding items mid-meeting is permissible in emergencies, plaintiffs say, but not as means to evade public notice requirements.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of evade

Verb

Jaros and Rauh also try to account for the uncertainty over whether taxes can be collected from other billionaires, such as the ones who have left since the beginning of the year and may thus have a legal case for escaping the tax.

— Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Arbella escaped, disguised as a man in a wig, boots and sword, with plans to flee to France with her ill-begotten husband.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of escape

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escarpments

eschew

eschewal

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“Eschew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eschew. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of eschew

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