shun

¹ American  

[shuhn] / ʃʌn /

verb (used with object)

shunned, shunning

1. to keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.), from motives of dislike, caution, etc.; take pains to avoid.

   Synonyms:

   eschew, evade

   Antonyms:

   seek

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Shun ² American  

[shoon] / ʃun /

noun

Wade-Giles, Pinyin.

1. Yao1

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'shun ¹ British  

/ ʃʌn /

interjection

1. military a clipped form of attention

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shun ² British  

/ ʃʌn /

verb

1. (tr) to avoid deliberately; keep away from

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Other Word Forms

• shunnable adjective
• shunner noun
• unshunnable adjective

Etymology

Origin of shun

First recorded before 950; Middle English shunen, Old English scunian “to avoid, fear”

Example Sentences

She asked not to be named or pictured over fears she would be shunned by her neighbours.

From BBC

Poor Bell was shunned and looked upon by the whole community as a murderer.

From Literature

It isn’t that they are intentionally shunning on-campus activities and events.

From The Wall Street Journal

Others continue to shun the state despite winning big concessions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cass’s proposal for social shunning of people who take jobs in the financial sector is gross.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• despise
• disdain
• eschew
• neglect
• pass up
• refuse
• reject
• scorn
• snub