EVADE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'evade' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evade are avoid , elude , escape , eschew , and shun . While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding. // evaded the question by changing the subject

Q: When would 'avoid' be a good substitute for 'evade'?

While the synonyms avoid and evade are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty. // try to avoid past errors

Q: When is it sensible to use 'elude' instead of 'evade'?

In some situations, the words elude and evade are roughly equivalent. However, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes. // what she sees in him eludes me

Q: In what contexts can 'escape' take the place of 'evade'?

The meanings of escape and evade largely overlap; however, 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 could 'eschew' be used to replace 'evade'?

While in some cases nearly identical to evade , eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful. // a playwright who eschews melodrama

Q: When can 'shun' be used instead of 'evade'?

The words shun and evade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence. // you have shunned your responsibilities

evade

verb

i-ˈvād

Definition of evade next

as in to avoid

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery people who use every loophole in the law to evade paying taxes

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How does the verb evade contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evade are avoid, elude, escape, eschew, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would avoid be a good substitute for evade?

While the synonyms avoid and evade are close in meaning, 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 evade?

In some situations, the words elude and evade are roughly equivalent. However, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

In what contexts can escape take the place of evade?

The meanings of escape and evade largely overlap; however, 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 eschew be used to replace evade?

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

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can shun be used instead of evade?

The words shun and evade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

Examples 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 evade For this enigmatic bird, storms aren’t a threat to evade but a ticket to their next meal. —

Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025 And because hybrid warfare is by its nature designed to evade clear attribution of responsibility, officials have hesitated to launch powerful responses without having indisputable evidence of an adversary’s identity. —

Lara Jakes, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025 Bosses who encouraged and condoned such attempts to evade the feds typically faced no repercussions. —

Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2025 Retirees are either pilloried as a drain on the state while those evading retirement, presidential candidates included, are viewed as out-of-touch geezers who need to make way for the young. —

James Chappel / Made By History, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for evade