eschew

verb

es·chew e-�?shü

i-;

es-�?chü

is-;

also e-�?skyü

eschewed; eschewing; eschews

Synonyms of eschew next

transitive verb

: to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : shun

eschewal

e-�?shü-əl

i-;

es-�?chü-

is-;

also e-�?skyü-

noun

Did you know?

Eschew derives from the Anglo-French verb eschiver and is akin to the Old High German verb sciuhen ("to frighten off"), an ancestor of our word shy. In his famous dictionary of 1755 Dr. Samuel Johnson characterized "eschew" as "almost obsolete." History has proven that the great lexicographer was wrong on that call, however. William Thackeray found "eschew" alive enough to use it almost one hundred years later in his classic novel Vanity Fair: "He has already eschewed green coats, red neckcloths, and other worldly ornaments." The word swelled in usage in English during the 19th and 20th centuries and is now common enough to be included even in small paperback dictionaries.

Choose the Right Synonym for eschew

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Example Sentences

Though a doctor with psychiatric training, he eschewed the science that had so enamored earlier child-rearing professionals … —

Sue Halpern, New York Review of Books, 29 May 2003

A fair number of academics eschew the simple title "professor" and call themselves economists, astronomers, historians, philosophers. —

Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999

When introduced to a stranger, he eschewed formalities, stuck out a gnarled right hand and responded with a chummy, "Hermann." —

Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 2 Feb. 1998

They now eschew the violence of their past. a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy

Recent Examples on the Web Kim Kardashian often adheres to strict diets, which traditionally eschew alcohol. —

Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 31 Dec. 2022 This would come hardest to the Khomeinist faction, which would have to step away from its absolutist worldview and eschew its exclusive claims to legitimacy. —

Kian Tajbakhsh, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022 There are vegan options for those who eschew dairy. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 Even those who eschew meat can enjoy the flavor, as Joe Yonan demonstrated in his Weeknight Vegetarian column with a recipe for Chorizo-Spiced Squash Tostadas. —

Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 5 July 2022 Experts say the group, while small, is dangerous because of its influence on the broader far-right movement to eschew politics and spill blood. —

Rachel Weiner, Jasmine Hilton, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Feb. 2023 Experts say the group, while small, is dangerous because of its influence on the broader far-right movement to eschew politics and spill blood. —

Dan Morse, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2023 Martin Cooper, who runs the Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co. with his wife, Karen Suen-Cooper, tends to eschew trees altogether, due to time constraints (the holidays are a busy time for the business) and to minimize their environmental footprint. —

Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 14 Dec. 2022 With Gloomhaven, Childres had taken pains to offer strong, realistic portrayals of female characters, and Elichev’s illustrations largely eschew high fantasy’s typical catsuits and cleavage. —

Sean Michaels, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eschew.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French eschiver (3rd present eschiu) of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off — more at shy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of eschew was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century