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Synonyms

steer clear of

Idioms  

  1. Stay away from, avoid, as in Dad warned us to steer clear of Dr. Smith and his poor advice. This idiom alludes to guiding a vessel away from some obstacle. Its figurative use was first recorded in 1723.

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.

Horror isn’t my cup of tea, and I do my best to steer clear of feminine rage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Whether the above is enough for you to steer clear of NordVPN, I’ll leave up to you.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

It advises parents to steer clear of fast-paced videos and use screens together where possible.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

The strait has been effectively closed since Saturday, as shipowners and insurers have looked to steer clear of the conflict.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

I’m careful to steer clear of whatever mystery shrouds his past.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

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.