shun

verb

ˈshən How to pronounce shun (audio)
shunned; shunning
Synonyms of shun

transitive verb

: to avoid deliberately and especially habitually
shuns publicity
shunner noun

Synonyms of shun

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escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Examples of shun in a Sentence

He shuns parties and social events. After his divorce he found himself being shunned by many of his former friends.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
More than once, AIPAC publicly condemned Israel’s actions, but this does not seem good enough for those who think the existence of Israel is a mistake, and anybody who supports it should be shunned. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026 While in prison, Shah became besties with Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes while shunning Ghislaine Maxwell. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026 Alamy Most Popular Long said to bring ruin on the male rulers who owned it, the Koh-i-Noor has also been shunned by female royals in recent decades. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026 There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shun

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shonen, shunnen, from Old English scunian

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shun was before the 12th century

Rhymes for shun

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Browse Nearby Words

shummick
shun
Shunammite
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Cite this Entry

“Shun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shun. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shun

verb
ˈshən How to pronounce shun (audio)
shunned; shunning
: to avoid purposely or by habit
shunned her former friends
shunner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shun

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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