SHUN Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

shun

verb

ˈshən

Definition of shun

as in to avoid

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery just a ruse to shun the debt collectors

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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 At the end of the last cruise, everyone shunned me, except for Roy, who instead was cruel and insulting to me. — Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Western governments have shunned and sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and his associates for overthrowing Suu Kyi's government. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Christian communities will be strong and will flourish because there is a movement to shun out Christian communities, especially in some of the Muslim world, in Palestinian communities and elsewhere. — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Tankers are shunning the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a lifeline for Saudi Arabia’s crude exports during the Strait of Hormuz’s closure; Asian refiners are eyeing the one-month-longer trip through the Suez Canal. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shun

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shun

Verb

But Beijing has also sought to avoid domestic fuel shortages by limiting its own fuel exports.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Seven-nine percent said to avoid a ticket, 72 percent said to avoid a crash, and 60 percent said because of bad weather, according to the research.

— Doug Myers, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of avoid

Verb

Mateychuk is an excellent skater, with clear NHL edge work and speed to be able to skate pucks up ice, evade pressure and close on checks.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Hennepin County’s top prosecutor calls the interstate clash over Castro’s transfer a needless test of states’ duty to honor extradition — and of whether federal agents can evade accountability.

— Mark Vancleave, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of evade

Verb

The bear scratched his arm, and the victim tripped and injured his foot while trying to escape, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Roy can’t escape one difficult question, however, concerning his plans for what’s next after his contract’s up at the end of the season.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of escape

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shuls

shun

shunned

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“Shun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shun. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shun

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