shun

¹

[ shuhn ]

verb (used with object)

, shunned, shun·ning.

1. to keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.), from motives of dislike, caution, etc.; take pains to avoid.

   Synonyms: eschew, evade

   Antonyms: seek

Shun

²

[ shoon ]

noun

, Wade-Giles, Pinyin.

1. Yao1

'shun

¹

/ ʃʌn /

interjection

1. military a clipped form of attention

shun

²

/ ʃʌn /

verb

1. tr to avoid deliberately; keep away from

Derived Forms

• ˈshunnable, adjective
• ˈshunner, noun

Other Words From

• shun·na·ble adjective
• shun·ner noun
• un·shun·na·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shun¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English shunen, Old English scunian “to avoid, fear”

Word History and Origins

Origin of shun¹

Old English scunian, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

No doubt that reaction would tickle Trump, who shuns coalition-building out of the belief that arm-twisting is a superior way to control his caucus.

From Salon

While John Lewis shunned celebrities, some other adverts are fronted by famous faces.

From BBC

This sometimes means investing in things like US stocks and shunning the UK investment which the government is keen on.

From BBC

That includes marrying a much older, undead Greek peasant shunned by this social caste’s peers.

From Salon

Or for Arab Americans who shunned Harris because of the Biden administration’s stance on Israel and Gaza?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• despise
• disdain
• eschew
• neglect
• pass up
• refuse
• reject
• scorn
• snub