avoid

[uh-void] / əˈvɔɪd /

VERB

refrain or stay away from; prevent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert bypass dodge escape evade fend off shun sidestep ward off

STRONG

abstain circumvent deflect desist ditch divert duck elude eschew flee hide jump obviate recoil shake shirk shy skip skirt weave withdraw

WEAK

circumlocute cold-shoulder fake out give the slip hold off keep clear lay low run for cover shake and bake shake off shrink from shuffle off skip out on skip town stay away stay out steer clear of step aside turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

face meet

STRONG

allow help permit stay take on

WEAK

seek want

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Anything, Puterbaugh said, to avoid the crowds she had experienced the summer before.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

He appreciates that you can avoid the sun by staying in your car.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

I had always heard that annuities were bad, a rip-off, and something to avoid.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026

"He urges the parties to return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and avoid any further deterioration."

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

To avoid detection, I can shape-shift into a human teenager or a cow.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Vocabulary lists containing avoid

"Brothers in Hope"

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"Do Family Meals Matter?" and "Fish Cheeks"

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Workshop 5, Part 1

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