eschew

verb

es·​chew e-ˈshü 

i-;

es-ˈchü 

is-;

also e-ˈskyü

eschewed; eschewing; eschews

transitive verb

: to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : shun

Some investigative efforts avoid risk by eschewing anonymous sources …

—Wilson Quarterly

eschewal

e-ˈshü-əl 

i-;

es-ˈchü-, 

is-;

also e-ˈskyü-

noun

Did you know?

Something to chew on: there’s no etymological relationship between the verbs chew and eschew. While the former comes from the Old English word cēowan, eschew comes instead from the Anglo-French verb eschiver and shares roots with the Old High German verb sciuhen, meaning “to frighten off.” In his famous dictionary of 1755, Samuel Johnson characterized eschew as “almost obsolete.” History has proven that the great lexicographer was wrong on that call, however. Today, following a boom in the word’s usage during the 19th and 20th centuries, English speakers and writers use eschew when something is avoided less for temperamental reasons than for moral or practical ones, even if misguidedly so, as when Barry Lopez wrote in his 2019 book Horizon of ill-fated Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott, “with an attitude of cultural superiority, eschewing sled dogs for Manchurian ponies....”

Synonyms of eschew

• avoid
• evade
• escape

Choose the Right Synonym for eschew

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 eschew in a Sentence

Though a doctor with psychiatric training, he eschewed the science that had so enamored earlier child-rearing professionals … —Sue Halpern, New York Review of Books, 29 May 2003

A fair number of academics eschew the simple title "professor" and call themselves economists, astronomers, historians, philosophers. —Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999

When introduced to a stranger, he eschewed formalities, stuck out a gnarled right hand and responded with a chummy, "Hermann." —Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 2 Feb. 1998

They now eschew the violence of their past.

a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy

Recent Examples on the Web

As consumer concern around microplastics grows, Blueland has made a name for itself by eschewing single-use plastic packaging for its eco-friendly cleaning products, which include detergents, spray cleaners, and hand soaps. —Don Steinberg, Time, 30 Apr. 2026

The 6-7 forward showed more patience and loyalty than most college players these days, eschewing opportunities to enter the transfer portal and staying at UConn for three years. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026

Adolph Ochs, publisher of The New York Times from 1896 until his death in 1935, eschewed bylines until the 1920s when the paper’s position on the issue began changing, as did that of many other publications. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026

For one thing, his coach, the grand master Vishnu Prasanna, eschewed computer chess engines for young players. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French eschiver (3rd present eschiu) of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off — more at shy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eschew

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

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Kids Definition

eschew

verb

es·​chew is-ˈchü 

: shun, avoid