Synonyms and antonyms of To avoid doing something, or to avoid something in British Thesaurus

avoid (verb)

to choose not to do something in order to achieve a better result

get out of ()

to avoid doing something that you should do or that you said you would do

duck out of ()

to avoid doing something that you were intending to do or had promised to do

abstain (verb)

to deliberately avoid doing something that is enjoyable but that may not be healthy, safe, or morally right

shirk (verb)

to avoid doing something difficult, or to avoid accepting responsibility for something

evade (verb)

to avoid accepting or dealing with something that you should do

skip (verb)

to avoid doing or having something

wriggle out of (doing) something ()

to avoid doing something by making excuses

flinch from (doing) something ()

to avoid dealing with a difficult responsibility or decision

sweep something under the carpet ()

to try to avoid dealing with a problem

avoid (verb)

to choose not to do something because it is unpleasant or not convenient

avoid someone/something like the plague ()

to be determined to keep away from someone or something completely

be/get/keep out of /the/someone’s way ()

to be or stay away from the area where someone is so that you do not annoy them or make it difficult for them to do something

bypass (verb)

to avoid dealing with someone or something, especially because you think you can achieve something more quickly without using them

cannot/can’t help something ()

used for saying that someone is trying to avoid something that they do not like doing

circumvent (verb)

formal to find a way of avoiding a rule or law that limits you, especially using a clever trick that does not break the law

cop out (British)

Britishinformal to avoid doing something that you should do because it is difficult

dodge (verb)

to avoid someone or something by moving quickly, especially so that something does not hit you or someone does not see you

dodge (verb)

to avoid doing something in a clever or dishonest way

duck (verb)

to avoid something such as a difficult question, issue, or duty

escape (verb)

to avoid thinking about or dealing with an unpleasant situation that you are in

eschew (verb)

very formal to avoid doing something, especially for moral reasons

evade (verb)

to avoid meeting someone who you do not want to see

funk (verb)

Britishinformal old-fashioned to avoid dealing with a situation or problem because you are afraid, or are not sure what to do

get/keep out of someone’s hair ()

to keep away from someone in order to avoid trouble or to avoid annoying them

get out of ()

to help someone to avoid doing something

give someone/something a wide berth ()

to avoid someone or something

hide behind ()

to use something as a way of preventing people from discovering information about you

jump ship ()

to leave a difficult situation when you should stay and deal with it

keep away ()

to avoid someone or something, or to make someone else do this

keep off ()

to avoid a particular type of food or drink

keep off ()

to avoid mentioning a particular subject in a conversation

keep out of ()

to not become involved with something

keep your distance ()

to avoid going near someone or something

leave/let well alone ()

to avoid trying to improve or change something that is satisfactory

let something ride ()

to allow a situation to continue instead of dealing with it immediately

lie down on the job ()

to not work as hard at something as you should do

not go near ()

to avoid someone or something

pike out ()

to decide not to do something that you agreed to do

shrink from ()

to not be willing to do something difficult, or to not deal with something unpleasant

shun (verb)

to deliberately avoid a person, place, or activity

shy away ()

to avoid someone, or to be unwilling to do something, because you are nervous, afraid, or not confident

sidestep (verb)

to avoid something difficult or unpleasant

skive off (British)

Britishinformal to avoid going to school or work when you should go

slack (verb)

to try to avoid working

spurn (verb)

literary to refuse to accept something, do something, or deal with something

stay away from ()

to avoid mentioning something or avoid becoming involved in something

stay off ()

to avoid eating a particular food, avoid drinking a particular drink, or avoid using illegal drugs

stay off ()

to avoid mentioning something

stay off ()

to avoid going to a particular place

stay out of ()

to avoid becoming involved in something

steer clear (of) ()

to try to avoid someone or something

stop away ()

to avoid going to a place

tiptoe around ()

to avoid dealing directly with a problem

worm your way out of (doing) something ()

to avoid doing something by making excuses or giving clever reasons