Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shun contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shun are avoid, elude, escape, eschew, and evade. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

Where would avoid be a reasonable alternative to shun?

In some situations, the words avoid and shun are roughly equivalent. However, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When can elude be used instead of shun?

While the synonyms elude and shun are close in meaning, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is escape a more appropriate choice than shun?

The synonyms escape and shun are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 might eschew be a better fit than shun?

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

a playwright who eschews melodrama

In what contexts can evade take the place of shun?

Although the words evade and shun have much in common, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

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 shun These women, once shunned by their communities, now have a platform to rebuild their lives through community tourism. Emily Lapointe, Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2025 Along the way, the very people who were shunned for so long were remarkably welcoming. Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025 Prices for most goods and services may rise and the economy will likely slump as businesses reduce capital spending and slash employees to cut costs while consumers buy only what is essential for their survival and shun the rest. Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Min Aung Hlaing and other senior leaders are shunned and sanctioned by many Western countries for their 2021 takeover. Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shun
Verb
  • Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Security scrutinized: Suspect eluded officers protecting Shapiro Balmer started fires while troopers searched Troopers were able to safely evacuate Shapiro's family and others in the mansion, but the fire raises the question of how Balmer was able to evade security.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Most of these are fine goals, and some (such as finally terminating the university’s efforts to evade a Supreme Court–ordered end to its use of race discrimination in admissions) ought to be uncontroversial.
    The Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Ray reportedly pushed the Uber driver to the ground, and the pair escaped.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shun. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on shun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!