Definitions

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.

It can provide electricity for only a few hours a day, and people avoid its flattened currency in favor of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

One company hoping to avoid any "World Cup sickies" is Birmingham-based digital agency Pull the Pin where founder Sam Hufton has expanded the firm's flexible working policy.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

One encouraging sign for the deal is that Paramount apparently wants to avoid a legal challenge at the state level.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

“We saw customers aggressively buying Friday’s dip, and when the usual bounce failed, it became hard to avoid the wave,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

There was no way that I could avoid hearing of the baby’s birth while in the company of other people.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

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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