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Definitions

give a wide berth

VERB
shun
Synonyms
STRONGEST
despise disdain eschew neglect pass up refuse reject scorn snub
STRONG
bilk cold-shoulder cut decline ditch dodge double duck elude escape evade shake shy stall
WEAK
get around give the runaround have no part of have nothing to do with hide out keep away from keep clear of palm off shake off stand aloof from stay shy of steer clear of turn back on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accept admire allow approve cherish like love sanction
STRONG
confront encounter face meet take on

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’s also home to elk, which you should give a wide berth if you’re lucky enough to see one.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

In medical devices, things are murkier—in encouraging innovation, the legal standards give a wide berth to people trying to develop technologies, with the understanding that sometimes even people trying their best will screw up.

From Slate • May 26, 2023

You should probably give a wide berth to the Twitter mentions of critics sceptical about Avengers: Endgame.

From The Guardian • Apr. 26, 2019

Then there was Universal's "Everest," which opted to give a wide berth to gangster rats and futuristic teens by opening in a special, Imax and premium format run.

From Reuters • Sep. 20, 2015

To all such things I give a wide berth.

From The Circular Study by Green, Anna Katharine