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escape

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb escape contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of escape are avoid, elude, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," 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 avoid be used to replace escape?

The words avoid and escape can be used in similar contexts, but 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 escape?

The words elude and escape 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 is eschew a more appropriate choice than escape?

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

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of escape?

In some situations, the words evade and escape are roughly equivalent. However, 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 escape?

The meanings of shun and escape largely overlap; however, 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 escape
Verb
Florida’s beaches have escaped this fate so far, but the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands haven’t been as lucky. Edward Woodson, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025 Is getting out that door enough for Gemma to escape? Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
Hall had a timely escape near the end of the second round to record the match’s first points and another midway through the third frame to secure a 2-0 win. Columbia Missourian, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2025 Louise also said the series — which ran from 1964 to 1967 — was an escape from the turmoil of the 1960s. Victoria Edel, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for escape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escape
Verb
  • Police said suspects fled before officers arrived on the scene but didn’t provide information about the suspects.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The next morning he was spotted by law enforcement and tried to flee, but was captured after a brief pursuit on foot.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • DeAngelo evaded prosecution for years while committing a string of murders and rapes across the Golden State between 1974 and 1986, including two murders and nine kidnappings in Sacramento County alone.
    Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025
  • However, Boasberg says the department evaded its obligations.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Google's longtime price alerts for flights have been popular, so the company is expanding that functionality to hotels, too.
    Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The trip will be led by Lauren Sánchez — who is engaged to Bezos and is vice chair of the billionaire’s Earth Fund — and marks Blue Origin’s 11th human space flight.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Before leaving office, Joe Biden issued a controversial pardon for his son over tax evasion and federal gun charges.
    Molly Nagle, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Sorrentino pled guilty to one count of tax evasion in January 2018, and his brother Marc pled guilty to one count of aiding in the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return.
    Diane J. Cho, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ed O’Keefe, meanwhile, flew to Ontario to examine the effect of Trump tariffs on electricity from Canada.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The mom and son were flown to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Soundproofing your apartment and crate-training your pup will help your dog bark less and avoid complaints from angry neighbors.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • And in the weeks leading up to the film’s release, Zegler has gamely promoted the film and avoided any obvious stumbles.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Tigers trailed Creighton at halftime and led Michigan just 30-29 at the break before pulling away down the stretch of both of those games.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
  • One fan, as Jokic exited the tunnel at the halftime break, bowed two hands to the center in sheer reverence.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The vehicle must also earn a good or acceptable rating in the collision avoidance areas, like pedestrian front-crash prevention technology test for daytime and nighttime driving as well as its headlights on all trim levels.
    Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
  • As far as speed, elephants moving at a slow speed show an even stronger avoidance of the difficult, more energetically-costly terrain.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escape. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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