SHUNNING Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

shunning 1 of 2

noun

as in escape

the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable this shunning of your financial responsibilities cannot continue indefinitely

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shunning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shun

as in avoiding

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery just a ruse to shun the debt collectors

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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 shunning

Noun

Their shunning of the Spanish coronation, however, felt uniquely unappealing, a show of disrespect to the winners of the most high-profile sporting event in the world. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 The concept, in its original form, described a tendency on the political left to react to minor ideological or linguistic offenses by demanding firings or social shunning, demands often reinforced by outraged social-media mobs. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025 In 1977, a measles epidemic that killed two children in Los Angeles County spurred a dramatic crackdown on vaccine-shunning across the country. — Arthur Allen, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

While in prison, Shah became besties with Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes while shunning Ghislaine Maxwell. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 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 Tankers are shunning the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a lifeline for Saudi Arabia’s crude exports during the Strait of Hormuz’s closure; Asian refiners are eyeing the one-month-longer trip through the Suez Canal. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 But instead of rejoicing with them, others are shunning them. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 Wang said that Silicon Valley has lost some of its appetite for founders who build hardware products, shunning the longer development cycles and less return upside, compared with AI applications, as well as inevitable supply chain hurdles. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 July 2026 Gas prices in focus for Memorial Day travel Just a few years ago, the auto industry was largely shunning big engines in favor of more fuel efficient powertrains. — Morgan Korn, ABC News, 7 June 2026 Special occasions celebrators, romantic weekenders, limelight-shunning VIPs, and families who want to be by the water can all be found lounging around the resort. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 But the end of colonial rule galvanized a new frontier spirit around booze, with Americans shunning the sherry, port, and brandy favored by the stiff Europeans, and instead leaning into their own hooch created by a mash of whatever grains were on hand. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shunning

Noun

Na Praia won’t be open until summer 2027, but the proprietors of the beloved pastoral escape that is São Lourenço do Barrocal east of Comporta are promising an exquisite new offering of suites, houses, and villas nestled into the dunes themselves.

— Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet through the Himalayas; a smokejumper designed a special high-altitude parachute to drop three hundred thousand Indian rupees to his escape party.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of escape

Verb

Suggest a timeline, assign a task, or ask the question everyone keeps politely avoiding.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Officials annually emphasize boating safety, wearing life jackets and being aware of conditions, especially rip currents, and avoiding drinking alcoholic beverages when venturing out on the water.

— Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of avoiding

Noun

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the upgrade is intended to support mission-essential navigation and weather avoidance while improving the aircraft’s capabilities for both conventional and nuclear missions.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Delaying a medical appointment is a common response to feeling stressed about what’s going on with your body, according to a 2021 study on health care avoidance.

— Glamour, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of avoidance

Verb

Prosecutors allege Reyes-Vargas has six prior convictions for bad or dangerous driving, including a DUI conviction, evading police, and engaging in a speed contest.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
The father-daughter duo has set up shop ensconced in the woods, herding donkeys and so far evading the violence closing in on them from the outside.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of evading

Noun

Grossman, the attorney representing Ream and Morris in the two cases, agrees that there was massive tax evasion when the ban was passed.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Last December, Galvan admitted paying the bribe and pleaded guilty to one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of evasion of tax assessment.

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

Definition of evasion

Verb

This is because the material that serves as the building blocks for planets is constantly escaping the swirling platters of gas and dust, or protoplanetary disks, that wrap around infant stars.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Fuller’s ideas are hard to summarize, but always seem to reach toward a utopian vision of escaping the drudgery of everyday life.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of escaping

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shunned

shunning

shunpike

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Style

“Shunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shunning. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shunning

noun

verb

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