AVOIDED Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

avoided

verb

past tense of avoid

as in evaded

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abolished

to put an end to by formal action asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of avoided Oswego avoided sending the ball near the speedy Konkey on kickoffs to prevent a repeat of last week’s scoring on a return. — Jerry Birchfield, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026 First, the Chiefs avoided an injury risk to Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL from last December. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026 Cindric avoided trouble all night, finished sixth and advanced without much fanfare. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Penalty relief is the broader term the IRS uses for circumstances in which a penalty may be reduced, removed or avoided. — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 When the tip bucket was passed around, patrons reached for their wallets, not avoided eye contact. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 But the trend has not gotten much attention because the state has avoided high-profile disruptions at major employers. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 Quarterback Kingston Tisdell avoided the rush and threw the ball down the middle. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Flock has been the target of much of the public's ire, but its rivals have largely avoided it. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 22 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoided

Verb

In defending the ban against the latest challenge, the Justice Department points out that the tax was regularly evaded.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Earlier this month, the detectives were notified that the homicide suspect, who had evaded arrest, had died by suicide.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

Alabama has since abolished judicial override, the practice that allowed judges to order the state to kill a person even though a jury of one’s peers requested otherwise.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Japan has faced growing criticism over its use of the death penalty, as a majority of the international community has abolished capital punishment.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of abolished

Verb

In the mechanical maintenance shop, five employees and the foreman escaped, but two were killed from exposure to the chemical, the report said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Simpson escaped pressure and rolled out to his left before firing a pass to diving receiver Brennan Presley for a touchdown.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of escaped

Verb

By contrast, Congress repealed federal restrictions and taxes on brewing beer for personal use in 1978.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
In 2022, Williams helped lead a group of residents to introduce and pass ballot measures that repealed three of El Dorado Hills’ LLADs.

— Haley Parsley August 28, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of repealed

Verb

Firefighters rescued a dog named Agusta and prevented a house fire from spreading during an incident in Santa Ana, California, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

— Denis Akbari, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Many of those cuts were prevented through litigation and Congress’ refusal to act, the report said.

— Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of prevented

Verb

If the league and union can’t agree on a new contract by some time in March, some regular-season games likely would be canceled.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
South Korean officials said this week that a second exercise, for amphibious landings scheduled for September, was canceled in June.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of canceled

Verb

Edmunds then dodged a rusher to complete a 49-yard pass to Skylar Robinson to set up a 32-yard field goal Malachi Newmaster on the final play of the first half.

— Dan Albano, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2026
The numbers behind the hype Eight Sleep has never disclosed revenue, and Franceschetti dodged specifics with Fortune.

— Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dodged

Verb

According to The Sacramento Bee, California Highway Patrol said the crew member was driving a semi-truck that veered off the interstate highway and overturned.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
At least one person died Thursday morning after a big rig overturned on Interstate 5 south of Zamora in Yolo County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of overturned

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avoidances

avoided

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“Avoided.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoided. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of avoided

verb

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