evade

verb

i-ˈvād How to pronounce evade (audio)
Definition of evadenext
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery people who use every loophole in the law to evade paying taxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb evade contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evade are avoid, elude, escape, eschew, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would avoid be a good substitute for evade?

While the synonyms avoid and evade are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of evade?

In some situations, the words elude and evade are roughly equivalent. However, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

In what contexts can escape take the place of evade?

The meanings of escape and evade largely overlap; however, 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 could eschew be used to replace evade?

While in some cases nearly identical to evade, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can shun be used instead of evade?

The words shun and evade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

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 evade But, again, the main takeaway from this case is that anybody who gets involved with a debtor that is evading a judgment is skating on some really thin ice. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 From the snow leopard to the pangolin, there are many animals that evade human contact. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2025 Wisconsin high court suspends Milwaukee judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2025 On Friday, a provision that had allowed for low-value shipments from mainland China and Hong Kong to evade tariffs altogether closed. —Danielle Kaye, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for evade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evade
  1. avoid
  2. escape
Verb
  • The key question is whether the data behind digital twins is sound enough to avoid the pitfalls that result in data decay over time (i.e., entropy).
    — Mika Newton, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Make sure to maintain an upright torso and avoid leaning forward or backward.
    — Laura Schober, Health, 13 May 2025
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • Found also faced a new story paradigm in Season 2 as one of the key elements of its premise changed with Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) escaping from Gabi’s (Hampton) basement in the Season 1 finale.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
  • Wainwright, who had escaped from a North Carolina prison days before killing 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on June 10 at Florida State Prison.
    — Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2025
Definition of escape

Browse Nearby Words

evadable
evade
evaded
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Cite this Entry

“Evade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evade. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of evade for Spanish Speakers

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