avoidance
noun
avoid·ance
ə-ˈvȯi-dᵊn(t)s 
1
3
: an act or practice of avoiding or withdrawing from something
Synonyms
Examples of avoidance in a Sentence
a writer known for avoidance of sentimentality
a complete avoidance of sentimentality
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s a notable avoidance of single-use plastics.
—
John O'Ceallaigh, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
In 2022, Bragg's office won convictions against two parts of the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg for a tax avoidance scheme.
—Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Carbon credits can be broken down into reduction, removal, or avoidance.
—Mark Le Dain, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
That relief only reinforces your avoidance behaviors, making your symptoms worse.
—Anthea Levi, Health, 24 Mar. 2024
Efficiency and risk avoidance began to run the game.
—Daniel Bessner, Harper's Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Delaying a medical appointment is a common response to feeling stressed about what’s going on with your body, according to a 2021 study on health care avoidance.
—Katie Way, SELF, 9 Apr. 2024
David has imbued Larry with so much guilt, exceptionalism, cluelessness, terror, cowardice, innocence, avoidance, vindictive zeal, genuine curiosity and joie de vivre that the performance becomes what Larry loves: a buffet.
—Wesley Morris Ron Butler Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
For instance, carbon reduction or avoidance offsets through clean cooking programs are instrumental in reducing emissions and bringing co-benefits of better health and incomes to some of the poorest parts of the world.
—Simi Thambi, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
John O'Ceallaigh, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
In 2022, Bragg's office won convictions against two parts of the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg for a tax avoidance scheme.
—Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Carbon credits can be broken down into reduction, removal, or avoidance.
—Mark Le Dain, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
That relief only reinforces your avoidance behaviors, making your symptoms worse.
—Anthea Levi, Health, 24 Mar. 2024
Efficiency and risk avoidance began to run the game.
—Daniel Bessner, Harper's Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Delaying a medical appointment is a common response to feeling stressed about what’s going on with your body, according to a 2021 study on health care avoidance.
—Katie Way, SELF, 9 Apr. 2024
David has imbued Larry with so much guilt, exceptionalism, cluelessness, terror, cowardice, innocence, avoidance, vindictive zeal, genuine curiosity and joie de vivre that the performance becomes what Larry loves: a buffet.
—Wesley Morris Ron Butler Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
For instance, carbon reduction or avoidance offsets through clean cooking programs are instrumental in reducing emissions and bringing co-benefits of better health and incomes to some of the poorest parts of the world.
—Simi Thambi, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avoidance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near avoidance
Cite this Entry
“Avoidance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avoidance. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
avoidance
noun
avoid·ance
ə-ˈvȯid-ᵊn(t)s
: the act or an instance of avoiding something
Medical Definition
avoidance
noun
avoid·ance
ə-ˈvȯid-ᵊn(t)s
often attributive
: the act or practice of keeping away from or withdrawing from something undesirable
reinforced by escape or avoidance of electric shock—E. S. Katkin & E. N. Murray
E. S. Katkin & E. N. Murrayavoidance learning
especially
: an anticipatory response undertaken to avoid a noxious stimulus
conditioned avoidance in mice
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