shun
[shuhn]
- to keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.), from motives of dislike, caution, etc.; take pains to avoid.
Show More
Origin of shun
before 950; Middle English shunen, Old English scunian to avoid, fear
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
seek.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
despisedisdaineschewrefusesnubrejectscornneglectdodgeshycutdeclineshakedoubleescapebilkevadeeludestallduckExamples from the Web for shunned
Contemporary Examples
Before Cuba was shunned and sanctioned, it was a handy place for the randy.
Now the center was being used for “Ebola orphans” – lost children, shunned children, distressed children.
By contrast, in the 2010 midterm election, the GOP embraced super PACs while Democrats shunned them.
Women Living with Incurable STDs, argues that women are more often shunned when it comes to an STI.
Or the person may have been sustained, but mercilessly mocked and shunned in life.
Historical Examples
In June the florist's shop is a poor place, sedulously to be shunned.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Hannah, as she moves up and down, is shunned as a person infected.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
To keep faith with John and Milly, should I have shunned him?
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
He was puzzled, for people, while they shunned him, did not appear uncivil.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
His manner to Vargrave was distant; he shunned all tete-a-tetes with his wife.
Alice, or The Mysteries, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
shun
- (tr) to avoid deliberately; keep away from
Show More
Word Origin
Old English scunian, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for shunned
shun
v.
Old English scunian "to shun, avoid; abhor; desist, abstain; to hide, seek safety by concealment," of uncertain origin; not found in any other language. Perhaps ultimately from PIE root *skeu- "to cover, to hide." Related: Shunned; shunning. A shun-pike (American English, 1911) was a road constructed to avoid tolls.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper