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.

So why does it happen, and can future retirees avoid it?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

The allegations were never proven but the partner has been able to use them to avoid having to return to Pakistan.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Feinberg has told Trump administration officials he could avoid those pitfalls using a carrot-and-stick approach with companies on the receiving end of those dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Kitchens are stripped bare and routine grocery trips are recast as a Herculean effort to avoid plastic-laden products.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

“We didn’t know they spoke Spanish in Turkey,” they’ll say, and then, to avoid explaining too much, we reply, “It’s Spanish from long ago, de munchos anyos. Our ancestors brought it from Spain to Turkey.”

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Vocabulary lists containing avoid

"Brothers in Hope"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Workshop 5, Part 1

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!