avoid, dodge, elude, escape, sidestep, circumvent, bypass, shirk, duck, flee, shun, eschew, evade, outwit, outmaneuver, parry, skirt, weasel out, wriggle out, get away from, steer clear of, give the s... [more]
avoid - shun - abstain - forgo - renounce - reject - spurn - evade - elude - refrain - dodge - circumvent - decline - repudiate - relinquish - abandon - forsake - steer clear of - give up - have nothing to do - keep away from - turn one's back on - have no truck with - wash one's hands of - drop - eschew
Eschew is a verb that means to deliberately avoid or abstain from something. It is often used in contexts where someone is intentionally steering clear of certain practices, habits, or substances. The term carries a connotation of conscious and purposeful avoidance, rather than a passive distancing. For instance, one might eschew unhealthy foods to maintain a healthy lifestyle, or eschew bad company to avoid negative influences. It suggests a proactive stance in avoiding that which is deemed undesirable or harmful.