1
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to abolish
to put an end to by formal action
asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of avoid
If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road.
—
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Please avoid any activities that may cause a spark or flame.
—Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Earlier in December, Rams coach Sean McVay traveled separately from his team for a game in Arizona, reportedly to avoid getting his players sick.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Cepuran, whose family has been close with Lehman and his family for a long time (Cepuran’s dad was among Lehman’s first coaches), has tried to avoid thoughts of the end.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avoid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoid
Verb
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Davis faces three counts of first-degree assault and a single count each of second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility involving a death, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane.—
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Ashton Hill, 17, was charged with discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities, evading arrest, riot participation, possession of marijuana under two ounces in a drug-free zone and possession of CS PG2 under one gram.—
Verb
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The FairTax Act of 2025 was the latest bid to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and replace income tax and other levies with a national sales tax.—
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During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to keep the NYPD’s headcount flat, abolish the department’s controversial Strategic Response Group and get rid of its gang database — all proposals opposed by Tisch, who supports hiring more cops.—
Verb
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Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver who, while searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) body, gets swallowed and must find a way to escape.—
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Set in 1977, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the thriller details Armando and his son in their efforts to escape the country in the midst of political turmoil.—
Verb
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That band faces a similar situation as Mariachi Joya Azteca, with at least two major events canceled in 2025.—
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The Anker 737 Power Bank keeps multiple devices running and charging, from your phone to your noise-canceling headphones, without weighing down your bag.—
Verb
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Since the suitcase won’t be as easy to zip open, thieves will have a harder time seeing whether or not your belongings are valuable; this alone could prevent your bag from becoming a target.—
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Tips to Prevent Pipes from Freezing Insulation is key in preventing frozen pipes, which means plumbing in areas like attics, exterior walls, outdoor pipes, and crawl spaces, will likely require extra insulation.—
Verb
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In 2020, voters repealed the Gallagher Amendment in the state constitution, which locked in a certain ratio of residential to commercial property taxes that provided extra security for homeowners against sudden increases.—
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But a further threat to its revenue comes by way of a possible ballot measure to repeal the trash pickup fee assessed last year on single-family homes that is being considered by the conservative-leaning Lincoln Club and others.—
Verb
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This design concept predates the work triangle, and the presence of an additional kitchen space influences the functionality and design of the main kitchen, potentially eliminating the traditional triangle.—
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And as technology has evolved, proposals for interstellar spacecraft have become more miniaturized and automated, eliminating much of the need for human oversight (and even astronauts to pilot them).—
Verb
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Lawyers also argued the conviction should be overturned because the verdict was tainted by the media attention and due to faulty instructions to the jury.—
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In 2005, Yates’ conviction was overturned by the Texas Court of Appeals.—
Cite this Entry
“Avoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoid. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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