avoidance
noun (uncountable)
UK/əˈvɔɪ.dəns/US/əˈvɔɪ.dəns/
the act of avoiding or keeping away from something or someone
Example Sentences
His avoidance of conflict often led him to remain silent during meetings.
Avoidance of unhealthy foods is part of maintaining a balanced diet.
The doctor recommended complete avoidance of allergen-laden environments for anyone susceptible to severe reactions.
Her avoidance strategy included leaving the room whenever an argument started.
Some people resort to avoidance to cope with stressful situations rather than confronting the issues directly.
Avoidance, while offering short-term relief, can sometimes hinder personal growth if used to dodge crucial responsibilities or difficult decisions that demand immediate attention.
The government faced criticism for its avoidance of direct answers regarding the new policy, a stance many citizens felt signaled a worrying lack of transparency and accountability.
Through therapy, he came to understand that his avoidance behavior stemmed from deeper anxieties, and addressing them was the key to moving forward positively.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
The act or habit of staying away from a situation, person, or responsibility.“Avoidance” refers to the conscious or subconscious choice not to confront or engage with something that feels threatening, uncomfortable, or undesirable. In daily scenarios, this could involve skipping events that trigger anxiety, dodging challenging conversations, or procrastinating tasks. On a broader level, avoidance may become a repeated pattern—like avoiding conflict altogether, leading to unresolved issues.In psychological contexts, avoidance can indicate a coping mechanism: someone may avoid reminders of a painful experience to reduce stress or emotional distress. In finance or legal contexts, “tax avoidance” describes structuring finances to minimize taxes within the law. Across contexts, though, “avoidance” always highlights an active or passive withdrawal from a perceived difficulty or obligation.
Alternatives
Depending on context, you might use “evasion,” “dodging,” or “escape.” “Evasion” often implies more cunning or deliberate efforts to circumvent something (like tax evasion). “Dodging” is typically more colloquial for quick, momentary maneuvers—like dodging questions or physical objects. “Escape” suggests actively breaking free from an unwanted scenario. Each alternative underscores a sense of getting away, but “avoidance” best covers the general notion of steering clear.
Writing
In academic or formal writing, clarify what is being avoided and why. For instance, “This study examines the relationship between avoidance behaviors and anxiety disorders,” specifying how dodging stressful cues can temporarily relieve anxiety but may reinforce fear in the long run. In a policy paper or legal text, discussing “avoidance strategies” might focus on regulatory loopholes. By providing the motive, setting, and consequences, you offer readers context on why avoidance occurs and how it shapes outcomes—be it organizational (avoiding compliance responsibilities), interpersonal (shunning confrontations), or mental health–related (numbing or denying issues).
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, friends might say, “She’s practicing total avoidance about her overdue bills,” or “He won’t talk about his exam grade—classic avoidance.” It can come up as friendly admonishment: “Stop with the avoidance and just call her!” People also mention comedic forms of avoidance, like ignoring chores or procrastinating deadlines, admitting lightheartedly, “I’m in total avoidance mode with that project.” The term typically suggests you’re aware of a problem or duty but sidestepping it instead of tackling it directly. It can be teased or lightly called out among friends, though sometimes the behavior runs deeper if a person is truly fearful or overwhelmed.
Etymology
“Avoidance” stems from the verb “avoid,” whose Middle English origin was “avoiden” or “voide,” meaning “to empty out or remove.” Through Old French “esvuidier,” it connected to the notion of clearing away or freeing oneself from something. Over centuries, the sense expanded to mean stepping away from or staying out of an unwanted situation. As language evolved, the noun “avoidance” solidified around the idea of an action or habit of evading something—whether that’s physical distance, emotional distance, or legal contrivances to escape certain obligations.