AVOIDING Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

avoiding

verb

present participle of avoid

as in evading

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abolishing

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 avoiding Her style is pithy and blunt, avoiding the ornate sentence structure of classical German. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 However early the experiment might be, the launch is a milestone for an emerging technology that has the potential to help meet AI’s growing demand for compute while avoiding the constraints on resources like power, water, and land on Earth. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 Jolly, who is white, faces the challenge of appealing to a broad electorate while avoiding actions that could alienate Black voters. — Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 Stoughton also suggested avoiding high heels, which prevent the calf muscle from flexing properly with each step. — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026 Use a gentle scalp cleanser, moisturizer and oil to keep your sensitive hair follicles healthy, avoiding products with sulfates that can dry out the skin. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2026 Both experts recommended following general sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining an optimal environment (dark, cool and quiet), keeping a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding sleep-disrupting substances such as alcohol and caffeine. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Previous strategies for growing plants on Mars included rinsing these poisons out, bringing supplemental fertilizers from Earth, or avoiding Martian soil entirely and using hydroponics. — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026 With progress on the full treaty apparently stalled, international negotiations have shifted their focus to discussing responsible behavior in space, such as avoiding the accumulation of space debris. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for avoiding

Verb

The new Marvel series will see the hero grapple with his identity and humanity while evading a bounty hunter and reuniting with his son.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The suspects were booked into the Fort Worth City Jail and face charges of burglary of a building, evading arrest or detention, and criminal mischief, according to police records.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of evading

Verb

Demolishing universities, assaulting the press, violently resegregating the public sphere, ramming degenerative AI down our throats, incarcerating mere zine makers, the regime is systematically repealing the right to culture.

— Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
In contrast to Democrats, their agenda has included repealing no-excuse absentee balloting, banning the use of ballot drop boxes and instituting stronger voter identification requirements.

— Daniel J. Mallinson, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of repealing

Verb

There are scores of websites, social-media groups, and YouTube channels dedicated to analyzing and documenting crashes, ostensibly with the goal of preventing future mishaps in flight.

— Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Austrian authorities have cited the headdress’s fragility as the cause preventing its return, as per a joint study by Austrian and Mexican conservators.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of preventing

Verb

What transpired in-between the curtain raiser and final pose was much like what had gone down the previous night in Cincinnati, at the first public gig the Beach Boys had done since canceling a slew of dates beginning in July.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
In an interview with Tulsa news station Fox23, Meulenberg also emphasized that the department did not recommend canceling the concert.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of canceling

Verb

For instance, the measure would prevent courts from overturning approvals of qualifying projects because of CEQA violations.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Three previous attempts to evict the 87-year-old were denied by the courts, but in March, the Supreme Court ruled against her, overturning a January 2022 decision in her favor.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of overturning

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avoided

avoiding

avoids

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“Avoiding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avoiding. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of avoiding

verb

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