19 Other Ways to Say AVOID | AVOID Synonyms With Examples

Have you ever wanted to say ‘avoid’ in different ways? Do you want to know other words that can fit in your sentences easily? In this article, we will explore 19 best synonyms for ‘avoid’, such as ‘shun’, ‘evade’, and ‘dodge’. You will see how to use each word with examples.

Shun

Shun means to stay away from someone or something on purpose. People often shun others because they do not like their behavior or they want to stay safe. Using ‘shun’ shows that the avoidance is intentional. It can be used in social situations, work, or daily life. For example, you can shun unhealthy habits or people who bring trouble. It is a strong word to show clear distance from something unwanted. You can also use it to give advice to others about avoiding bad choices.

• He shuns smoking because he wants to live longer.
• She shuns gossiping friends to stay happy.
• The town shuns people who break laws.

Evade

Evade is used when someone escapes or avoids something, often cleverly or quickly. You can evade questions, rules, or dangers. It suggests skill in avoiding without getting caught or facing problems. This word is useful for talking about tricky situations or times when someone wants to avoid responsibility. Using ‘evade’ makes your sentence feel more active because it shows movement or strategy in avoiding something. People use it in many contexts like exams, work, or dangers.

• He evaded the questions in the interview.
• The car evaded the traffic jam by taking a small road.
• She evaded the topic to avoid conflict.

Dodge

Dodge means to move quickly to avoid something that is coming. It is often physical but can also mean avoiding responsibilities or problems. Using ‘dodge’ shows quick action. It can be used in sports, accidents, or even everyday life situations. Dodge is also used for avoiding things you do not like or do not want to face. The word gives your sentence energy and shows active effort to stay safe or free from trouble.

• He dodged the puddle on the street.
• She dodged the difficult question in class.
• The dog dodged the falling branch.

Elude

Elude means to escape or avoid being caught. It is often used for both people and ideas. Sometimes, elude can mean something is hard to understand or achieve. Using ‘elude’ makes your sentence sound thoughtful, especially when describing challenges or clever escape. It is helpful when talking about tricky situations or when something is difficult to reach. You can use elude for problems, dangers, or even success.

• The answer eluded him for hours.
• The criminal eluded the police again.
• Happiness sometimes eludes people in stressful times.

Circumvent

Circumvent means to find a way around a problem or rule. It is clever and often planned. Using ‘circumvent’ shows thinking and strategy to avoid difficulties. It is useful for talking about work, legal rules, or daily life challenges. People often circumvent rules or obstacles without breaking them directly. This word can show creativity in solving problems or staying safe. It works for planning, work, and personal life situations.

• They circumvented the traffic by taking small streets.
• He circumvented the law with careful planning.
• She circumvented the difficult question by asking another.

Eschew

Eschew means to deliberately avoid something because you think it is bad or harmful. It is a serious word used for health, habits, or personal choices. Using eschew shows strong decision and self-control. You can eschew food, drinks, activities, or people. It is a formal word but very useful to show careful avoidance. People use it in advice, health tips, and life choices.

• He eschews fast food for better health.
• She eschews social media in the evenings.
• They eschew unnecessary arguments at home.

Sidestep

Sidestep means to avoid facing a problem or issue directly. It can be used in conversation, decisions, or work. Using sidestep shows caution and tact. You can sidestep a question, responsibility, or danger. This word is helpful when you want to avoid trouble without confrontation. Sidestep is also used in sports for moving aside. It gives a sense of careful movement in avoiding something.

• She sidestepped the question cleverly.
• He sidestepped the argument with a joke.
• They sidestepped the crowded street to reach home faster.

Flee

Flee means to run away from danger or threat. It shows urgency and action. Flee can be used for people, animals, or situations. Using flee highlights the need for quick action to stay safe. You can flee from danger, scary situations, or uncomfortable places. It is strong and shows movement. It is often used in stories, news, or advice for safety.

• The villagers fled the storm quickly.
• He fled the room when he heard a loud noise.
• The cat fled from the barking dog.

Abstain

Abstain means to choose not to do something. It is often used for habits, food, drinks, or actions. Using abstain shows self-control and decision. You can abstain from smoking, drinking, or anything you want to avoid. It is polite and formal. It is useful for advice, health, and personal goals. Abstain shows your intention clearly to avoid something harmful or unwanted.

• He abstains from alcohol completely.
• She abstains from eating sweets during workdays.
• They abstain from negative discussions online.

Evict

Evict means to force someone to leave a place. It is often used for homes or property. Using evict shows legal or strong action. You can evict tenants, guests, or animals. It is clear and direct. Evict is useful for serious situations when someone must leave. It is often used in rules, work, and personal life for clarity. People understand that eviction is final and necessary in some situations.

• The landlord evicted the tenants for not paying rent.
• The hotel evicted noisy guests.
• Authorities evicted people from unsafe buildings.

Avert

Avert means to prevent something bad from happening. It shows action and care. Using avert shows effort to stop danger or problems. You can avert accidents, problems, or illness. It is useful in safety tips, advice, and personal life. Avert shows proactive behavior and responsibility. People often use avert in emergency advice or health tips. It is clear and strong for avoiding problems.

• She averted the accident by braking fast.
• They averted a serious mistake at work.
• He averted trouble by staying quiet.

Refrain

Refrain means to stop yourself from doing something. It shows self-control and decision. Using refrain shows choice and effort. You can refrain from talking, eating, or reacting. It is useful in advice, social life, and personal decisions. Refrain is polite and shows thoughtful behavior. It helps in situations where acting might cause trouble or discomfort. People often use refrain for actions, speech, and habits.

• He refrained from speaking during the argument.
• She refrained from eating sweets for health.
• They refrained from interrupting the teacher.

Eschewal

Eschewal means the act of avoiding something. It is like eschew but refers to the action itself. Using eschewal shows behavior or habit. You can talk about eschewal of sugar, laziness, or distractions. It is useful for writing about habits, life, and personal choices. Eschewal shows intentional and continuous avoidance. People use it to describe habits, rules, or careful behavior in life.

• His eschewal of junk food improved his health.
• The eschewal of gossip helped her focus.
• Their eschewal of arguments kept peace at home.

Keep away

Keep away means to stay distant from someone or something. It is very common and easy to use. Using keep away shows caution and safety. You can keep away from fire, danger, or trouble. It is helpful for instructions, advice, and safety tips. Keep away shows clear action and understanding. People often use it for children, pets, or risky situations. It is friendly and easy to understand for all ages.

• Children were told to keep away from fire.
• He kept away from people who were rude.
• She kept away from traffic during rush hour.

Ward off

Ward off means to prevent something harmful. It is often used for illness, danger, or problems. Using ward off shows action and effort. You can ward off sickness, attacks, or troubles. It is useful in advice, health, and safety tips. Ward off gives a sense of protection and care. People use it for physical, mental, and social safety. It shows responsibility and planning to avoid problems.

• The medicine helped ward off illness.
• He wore a hat to ward off the sun.
• They used barriers to ward off danger.

Escape

Escape means to get away from a situation or place. It is often used for danger or boredom. Using escape shows action and movement. You can escape problems, bad places, or routines. Escape is common in stories, advice, and life experiences. It shows desire for freedom or safety. People use escape for physical, mental, and emotional situations. Escape makes sentences feel active and alive.

• He escaped from the boring lecture.
• The bird escaped from the cage.
• She escaped from a difficult conversation.

Avoidance

Avoidance means the act of staying away from something. It is a noun and often used for habits, behaviors, or actions. Using avoidance shows intention and behavior. You can talk about avoidance of conflict, danger, or unhealthy things. Avoidance is useful for advice, self-improvement, and reflection. It explains a pattern of behavior clearly. People often use avoidance to describe habits and personal decisions. Avoidance shows planning and care in daily life.

• Her avoidance of arguments kept peace.
• His avoidance of sugar improved health.
• The team's avoidance of risk helped success.

Detour

Detour means to go around something instead of going through it. It is often used for roads, traffic, or obstacles. Using detour shows action and planning. You can detour to avoid traffic, danger, or problems. Detour is helpful in daily life, travel, and work. It shows thinking ahead and smart movement. People use detour for roads, schedules, or problems. Detour is clear and easy to understand for showing avoidance.

• They took a detour to avoid traffic.
• He detoured around the broken bridge.
• She detoured to avoid the crowded market.

Rebuff

Rebuff means to reject or push away something or someone. It can be advice, offer, or person. Using rebuff shows decision and distance. You can rebuff offers, requests, or attention. Rebuff is polite but firm. It is useful in social, work, and personal situations. People use rebuff to show limits or careful choice. Rebuff helps in maintaining boundaries and avoiding problems. It is clear and respectful when you need to avoid unwanted things.

• He rebuffed the offer politely.
• She rebuffed the salesman at the door.
• They rebuffed requests they could not accept.

Final Thoughts

Knowing different ways to say ‘avoid’ helps you express yourself better. Words like shun, dodge, evade, and sidestep make sentences more interesting and clear. You can use them in daily life, work, and stories to explain avoidance in many ways. Learning synonyms gives variety and makes communication stronger. Practice using them in sentences to remember easily and improve your writing and speaking.