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Definition of shunnext

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 Doug Wilson is notorious in Moscow, where some residents boycott businesses affiliated with Christ Church and shun its members. Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 15 Dec. 2025 But such inadvertent collaboration with an authoritarian administration can have a devastating impact on civic and opposition groups as they are simultaneously targeted by the government and shunned by erstwhile supporters. Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2025 Front-line free-agent pitchers shun Colorado’s high altitude, meaning trades are an option the Rockies must explore to acquire decent, veteran arms. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025 Don’t shun conflicting points of view. Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shun
Verb
  • To avoid this dilemma, my aunt always travels with a portable power bank like this slim option from Anker.
    Stephanie Gray, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Learn how to properly thaw frozen pipes, and how to avoid them in the first place.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
  • 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.
    Sergio Candido, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
  • 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.
    Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shun. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on shun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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