eschew
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of eschew
1300–50; Middle English eschewen < Old French eschiver, eschever < Germanic; compare Old High German sciuhen, German scheuchen, shy 2
Explanation
If you eschew something, you deliberately avoid it. If you love the hustle and bustle of a big city, then most likely you eschew the suburbs. Eschew comes from a word meaning "dread," or "shun." So to eschew something isn’t simply to avoid it, the way you would avoid walking in a puddle — it's stronger than that. You eschew things that you find morally or aesthetically wrong, or that you have chosen to find wrong. Some people eschew processed food and sugary drinks due to health reasons and others eschew using social media during work in order to stay focused.
Vocabulary lists containing eschew
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This Week in Words: April 1 - 6, 2018
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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: Eschew male-only organizations unaffiliated with Harvard, and you may be captain of a male-only organization affiliated with Harvard, the football team.
From Washington Post • May 11, 2016
Eschew the process-talk and expound on issues, focusing on not just analysis of the problems but also on detailed solutions.
From Washington Post • Feb. 10, 2016
Eschew sugar and processed foods; instead, gravitate towards wholesome whole grains, good wine, luscious fruits and vegetables, and lean protein.
From Time Magazine Archive
Eschew all of that sort for many a year yet.
From Two on a Tower by Hardy, Thomas
Eschew all of that sort for many a year yet.
From Two on a Tower by Hardy, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
