1
as in evaded
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abolished
to put an end to by formal action
asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of avoided
Last night’s premiere marked Hadid’s first major red carpet moment of 2026, having avoided any awards ceremony or glitzy gala so far.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
Crocker-Johnson avoided early foul trouble and led all scorers with 10 points as Minnesota shot 56% from the field.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026
At the October hearing, Rob Moddelmog, enforcement counsel for the Coastal Commission, said Levy could have avoided the years-long conflict by complying with the California Coastal Act.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Struijk has avoided injuries this season, but has been no stranger to long lay-offs in past campaigns at Elland Road.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
About 85 percent of these benefits stem from deaths avoided because of reductions in particular matter alone.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
Too many courts for too long have avoided grappling with legitimate and meritorious challenges to election rules by dismissing cases on standing grounds.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Critics said the change means EPA will ignore the economic value of lives saved, hospital visits avoided and lost work and missed school days.
—Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The trio avoided politics because Patti's beliefs differed from Ronald and Nancy's conservative perspectives.
—Haley Van Horn, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoided
Verb
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The Ravens would find the endzone once again with nine minutes left in regulation after Lamar Jackson evaded heavy pressure from Pittsburgh's front seven to find Zay Flowers for a 50-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead, 17-13.—
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Out-of-state businesses that evaded city taxes by hiding city business income.—
Verb
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In the wake of the deadly Minneapolis shooting, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is pushing for ICE to be abolished.—
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Several countries that once abolished their monarchies—including Spain, Cambodia, and Britain (under Oliver Cromwell)—later restored them as constitutional monarchies.—
Verb
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The second employee escaped, but Partida was trapped inside, per the outlet.—
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The Los Angeles Rams narrowly escaped defeat against the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round and are favored on the road against the Chicago Bears.—
Verb
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The European countries that repealed their wealth taxes did so for varied reasons.—
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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.—
Verb
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The athletes are not employees in the legal sense and therefore cannot be prevented from leaving for another university.—
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But a landmark land claims settlement in 1980 exempted Maine from federal Indian gaming laws, which has prevented the tribes from opening casinos on their lands.—
Verb
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Festivals canceled The Durag Fest isn’t alone in taking a break this year.—
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At the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), $588 million in drug research grants were cancelled and 1,200 related personnel laid off.—
Verb
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Those who remain are concentrated in Venezuela’s cities, including its capital, Caracas, where the street market in the Catia neighborhood once was so busy that shoppers bumped into one another and dodged oncoming traffic.—
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French President Emmanuel Macron dodged a similar question.—
Verb
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By an 11-1 vote, a Miami-Dade County jury originally sentenced him to death, but that sentence was overturned in 2017 after a new state law ruled it unconstitutional for a death sentence to be imposed without a unanimous jury verdict, according to the court records.—
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Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape of Mann in early 2020, but that conviction was overturned in 2024 by a New York state appeals court.—
Cite this Entry
“Avoided.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoided. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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