Eschew derives from the Anglo-French verb eschiver and is akin to the Old High German verb sciuhen ("to frighten off"), an ancestor of our word shy. In his famous dictionary of 1755 Dr. Samuel Johnson characterized "eschew" as "almost obsolete." History has proven that the great lexicographer was wrong on that call, however. William Thackeray found "eschew" alive enough to use it almost one hundred years later in his classic novel Vanity Fair: "He has already eschewed green coats, red neckcloths, and other worldly ornaments." The word swelled in usage in English during the 19th and 20th centuries and is now common enough to be included even in small paperback dictionaries.
escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.
nothing escapes her sharp eyes
avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.
try to avoid past errors
evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.
evaded the question by changing the subject
elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.
what she sees in him eludes me
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 implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.
a playwright who eschews melodrama
Examples of eschew in a Sentence
Though a doctor with psychiatric training, he eschewed the science that had so enamored earlier child-rearing professionals …—Sue Halpern, New York Review of Books, 29 May 2003A fair number of academics eschew the simple title "professor" and call themselves economists, astronomers, historians, philosophers.—Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999When introduced to a stranger, he eschewed formalities, stuck out a gnarled right hand and responded with a chummy, "Hermann."—Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 2 Feb. 1998
They now eschew the violence of their past.
a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy
Recent Examples on the WebThe farmer who eschews improved techniques will earn a low return, so that land purchase offers by highly productive operators become very attractive.—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Two-term Republican Sen. Deb Fischer faces a strong challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn, a former union leader who eschewed both major parties.—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024 Conservative applicants avoid California; liberals skirt Florida College applicants who avoid states for political reasons seem most likely to eschew places with high-profile politics and political leaders.—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024 Tan Su Shan, deputy CEO, DBS Bank, Singapore Singapore, too, eschews formal quotas in favor of voluntary targets.—Beth Greenfield, Fortune Asia, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for eschew
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eschew.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French eschiver (3rd present eschiu) of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off — more at shy
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