eschew

What does “eschew” mean?

verb.to deliberately avoid using; to abstain from.

SAT Usage

this verb is often used in passages discussing ethics, lifestyle choices, or personal habits. It emphasizes a conscious choice to avoid certain behaviors or practices, highlighting the speaker's values or beliefs, and differs from similar terms like "neglect," which implies an absence of action rather than a deliberate decision.

Common Confusions

Eschew implies a conscious decision to avoid something, while neglect usually suggests a failure to care for or attend to something, often unintentionally.

Example Sentences

• She chose to eschew social media entirely after the scandal.

• He made a conscious effort to eschew negative influences in his life, surrounding himself instead with positive and supportive friends.