elude

verb

ē-ˈlüd How to pronounce elude (audio)
Definition of eludenext
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

Synonym Chooser

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 Thanks to his cover identity, Pilecki eluded detection. —Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 The Cubs had runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings but came away with only one run on a windblown fly ball by Pete Crow-Armstrong that blew in several feet and eluded Heliot Ramos in left for an RBI double. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025 In the bottom of the second inning Wednesday afternoon, on the last day of what had been a torturous opening month to the season,Max Muncy finally did the thing that had eluded him over an ice-cold start. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025 Suddenly the success that had always eluded Pavement was happening at a level never seen before. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for elude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elude
  1. evade
  2. avoid
  3. escape
Verb
  • The former prisoners who have continued to evade police for nearly a week include Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Lenton Vanburen and Antoine Massey, according to USA Today, while Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis have been re-arrested.
    — Sean Neumann, People.com, 22 May 2025
  • Penguin Press, June 17 Image El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott After skipping town to evade a nagging creditor in 2008, Harper returns to her Detroit suburb months later to find her two older sisters, once in the throes of debt, sporting fresh highlights and driving a Lexus.
    — Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Hoerner avoided the tag, which would’ve been the second out of the inning.
    — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • The collection avoids rigid standards by mixing tailored silhouettes with combat trousers and chunky sneakers.
    — Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • The focus shifts to Santino and Rosa, who quickly find that the initial euphoria of escaping routines doesn’t protect against relationship struggles.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 May 2025
  • The tumult did not escape the notice of opportunists elsewhere.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Definition of escape

Browse Nearby Words

elucidative
elude
eluded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elude. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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