ELUDE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'elude' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elude are avoid , escape , eschew , evade , and shun . While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes. // what she sees in him eludes me

Q: When can 'avoid' be used instead of 'elude'?

While the synonyms avoid and elude are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty. // try to avoid past errors

Q: When would 'escape' be a good substitute for 'elude'?

In some situations, the words escape and elude are roughly equivalent. However, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent. // nothing escapes her sharp eyes

Q: Where would 'eschew' be a reasonable alternative to 'elude'?

Although the words eschew and elude have much in common, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful. // a playwright who eschews melodrama

Q: When is 'evade' a more appropriate choice than 'elude'?

The synonyms evade and elude are sometimes interchangeable, but evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding. // evaded the question by changing the subject

Q: When could 'shun' be used to replace 'elude'?

While in some cases nearly identical to elude , shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence. // you have shunned your responsibilities

elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd

Definition of elude next

as in to evade

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery the millionaire had been eluding his fair share of taxes for years before getting caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb elude contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elude are avoid, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When can avoid be used instead of elude?

While the synonyms avoid and elude are close in meaning, avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When would escape be a good substitute for elude?

In some situations, the words escape and elude are roughly equivalent. However, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

Where would eschew be a reasonable alternative to elude?

Although the words eschew and elude have much in common, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When is evade a more appropriate choice than elude?

The synonyms evade and elude are sometimes interchangeable, but evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When could shun be used to replace elude?

While in some cases nearly identical to elude, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

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 elude Of course, the burning question on everyone's mind when the 67th Annual Grammy Awards kick off Sunday, Feb. 2, at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena is if Bey will finally, finally click her wrist and strut away holding the trophy that has eluded her time and time again: Album of the Year. —

Jason Lamphier, EW.com, 1 Feb. 2025 And as Feinstein points out, although forever love eluded her, for Minnelli, there are no regrets. —

Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025 Online support groups have emerged organically, offering 24/7 community when sleep eludes you. —

Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 Huge and athletic, the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder had the quickness and agility to elude NFL defenders, yet also sought out and won collisions against linebackers and safeties. —

Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for elude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude

Verb

Cut to the two men brawling in the bowels of a derelict ship in the Miami port, where Spencer has imprisoned and ultimately attempts to drown his son to evade capture.

— Hunter Ingram, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
After Shark Attack on Bahamas Vacation, the Victims, 1 with 'Shredded' Foot, Speak Out In the actual video, Wells also apologized for his expletive-laden reaction while still attempting to evade the predator.

— Abigail Adams, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025