shun

verb

ˈshən 

shunned; shunning

transitive verb

: to avoid deliberately and especially habitually

shuns publicity

shunner noun

Synonyms

• avoid
• dodge
• duck
• elude
• escape
• eschew
• evade
• finesse
• get around
• scape
• shake
• shirk
• shuffle (out of)
• weasel (out of)

Choose the Right Synonym for shun

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew 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

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 shun in a Sentence

He shuns parties and social events.

After his divorce he found himself being shunned by many of his former friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Moreover, cats were more likely to ignore dogs than vice versa, with 42 percent of felines ignoring canines, and 28 percent of dogs shunning cats. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

As a formerly cruise-averse traveler who still mostly shuns larger ships, small-ship sailing has become one of my favorite ways to explore the world. —Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 16 Dec. 2024

The concussive force of streaming platforms and word-of-mouth influence has caused a quarter-century of hard-touring acts once shunned by Music City's mainstream country industry to achieve rabid acclaim. —Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 15 Dec. 2024

He’s largely shunned the spotlight in their six decades together, choosing to maintain his privacy in spite of his wife’s A-list fame. —Rachel Desantis, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shonen, shunnen, from Old English scunian

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

shun

verb

ˈshən 

shunned; shunning

: to avoid purposely or by habit

shunned her former friends

shunner noun