shun Hear it!

shun Definition

shun (s̸hun)

transitive verb shunned, shun·ning

to keep away from; avoid scrupulously or consistently

Etymology: ME schunien < OE scunian

shun Related Forms
shun·ner noun
shun Synonyms

shun

v.

dodge, evade, keep away from, ignore, neglect; see also avoid.

Antonyms accept, adopt*, take advantage of.

shun Usage Examples

Object

  • limelight: There are lots of reasons why rich people choose to shun the limelight.
  • spotlight: The Welsh band, who have shunned the media spotlight, released their last single The Masses Against the Classes in January 2000.
  • publicity: Richard Guy is the first farmer I've come across who does not shun publicity.
  • sin: He is calling on us to remember some things that will enable us to shun sin.
  • evil: As Job 28:28 says, The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.
  • regime: On one hand, the international community has shunned the military regime that took control of the government by force in 1988.

Adjective complement

  • evil: They do not have to reason in order to shun evil.

Modifying Another Word

  • largely: Historians of political thought have largely shunned the work.
  • once: Relatives and friends who once shunned him, hugged and kissed him.
  • previously: Agents who previously shunned formality can now be expected to seek formal agreements.
  • even: He's even shunned by the kids at the fat table at school, friendless and alone.
  • always: And finally The Real Meat Company has always shunned sponsorship.

Used with why or when

  • what: Miller also explores the shadow realm of those who shun what Hume called the conversible world.

Infinitive complement

  • declare: For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Preposition: in

  • favor: Well, almost; PUT will have been shunned in favor of POST, which all Web browsers actually contain support for.

Preposition: by

  • rest: Dalits do the jobs shunned by the rest of society.
  • society: Also a divorced woman was shunned by society and treated as an outcast.
  • man: Perhaps it was just an effete London thing shunned by real men who were into spanners, grease and steam.
  • people: Used at one time as a burial ground, it was shunned by people even during the day-time for fear of ghosts.

Browse dictionary entries near shun

  1. Shulamite
  2. shul
  3. shuffleboard
  4. shuffle
  5. shudder
  6. shucks
  7. shuck
  8. shtick
  9. shtg
  10. shtetl
  1. Shunning
  2. shunpike
  3. shunt
  4. shunt winding
  5. shush
  6. Shushan
  7. shut
  8. shut down
  9. shut-eye
  10. shut-in