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avoid To intentionally steer clear of, especially something unpleasant or undesirable. ■ "I avoid Mondays like the plague because they're always so boring and uninteresting."
prescribe To give someone a set of instructions or rules that they must follow in order to avoid punishment. ■ "If you want to avoid getting a ticket, always obey the traffic laws."
countenance The expression or appearance of someone who is showing an outward sign of something they do not truly feel, in order to avoid conflict or gain advantage. ■ "Despite his obvious contempt for her ideas, he wore a placid countenance during the meeting in order to avoid rocking the boat."
sneaking The act of quietly and surreptitiously moving about or making one's way, typically to avoid being noticed. ■ "I had been sneaking around the office all day trying to find the perfect snack for my afternoon pick-me-up. When I finally found a stash of donuts in the break room, I let out a sigh of relief and quickly hid behind the vending machine to avoid being caught by my boss.
Trusts A type of financial institution that manages assets for individuals or organizations. They can also be used to avoid paying taxes. ■ When the government decided to lower corporate taxes, many corporations started setting up trusts to avoid paying their fair share.
alternating To switch back and forth between two things, usually in a rhythmic or patterned manner. ■ Alternating between sipping coffee and taking naps every hour to avoid burnout at work.
Argumentative Adjective describing someone or something that loves to argue. ■ "That guy is so argumentative, I avoid him at parties."
Arranged To plan or organize something in advance, typically in order to avoid chaos or confusion. ■ John arranged a surprise party for his friend's birthday. The guests were completely caught off guard and had the best time ever!
bluffing To pretend to know something when you actually don't, in order to avoid looking foolish or to gain an advantage. ■ "I'm bluffing about knowing the answer to this question," said John, as he hastily flipped through his notes.
bogs A quagmire of mud and filth that people would rather avoid at all costs. ■ "I forgot my umbrella at home and now I'm stuck in this bog. It's like quicksand, only worse!
condone To pretend to approve or accept something that you secretly disapprove of, usually in order to avoid conflict. ■ "I can't believe my boss is condoning this ridiculous project proposal. It's just a waste of resources."
crept To move very slowly, often in a stealthy or sneaky way, especially in order to avoid detection. ■ "I crept through the dark hallway, trying not to make a sound so I wouldn't be caught by the monster."
crouch The act of squatting down or stooping low, usually with the intention of concealing oneself from view. ■ "I had to crouch behind the bushes to avoid being seen by the neighbor's dog."
crouched To assume a low position with one's knees bent, as if to prepare for an attack or to avoid being seen. ■ "The cat crouched behind the bush, waiting to pounce on its unsuspecting prey."
delicately In a way that is so delicate as to avoid offending anyone or causing any discomfort. ■ When serving the vegan guests, Sarah made sure to delicately ask if they had any dietary restrictions.
demur To act in a reserved or hesitant manner, often as a way to avoid commitment. ■ "I think I'll just demur on the decision for now and see how things unfold."
detour A sudden and unexpected change in direction or route. ■ "I was on my way to the store, but I took a detour to avoid traffic and ended up getting lost."
disguised To pretend to be someone or something else, often in order to deceive others or avoid recognition. ■ The politician was disguised as a janitor in order to sneak into the enemy's headquarters and gather information.
diversion A humorous or amusing way to change the subject. ■ "Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!" This is a classic example of using diversion as a way to avoid a serious question.
Diversionary A person or thing that diverts attention away from the real issue. ■ "The politician used a diversionary tactic to avoid discussing the real issue during the debate."
dodge A word used to describe someone who is very clever, skilled, or crafty in evading difficult situations. ■ "John had to use all of his dodging skills to avoid the question about his past mistakes."
dodged To avoid or evade something, especially danger or difficulty. ■ "I dodged the question by saying I don't know."
eluded To escape or avoid capture, particularly by being clever or cunning. ■ "Despite my best efforts to elude the security guards, I accidentally tripped over a rogue cable and was caught red-handed."
escaped To manage to avoid or break free from a difficult situation, often through trickery or cleverness. ■ "I escaped the test by cheating on it. But then I got caught and failed anyway."
evasive Adjective describing someone or something that tends to avoid or dodge questions, issues, or situations. ■ "I don't know what you're talking about," said the evasive politician when asked about his shady business dealings.
exercising Engaging in physical activity for the purpose of improving health and fitness, while simultaneously trying to avoid sweating. ■ "I'm exercising by pretending to jog while secretly walking. I can't sweat if I'm not actually moving."
forego To give up something beforehand, typically because it is unpleasant or unnecessary. ■ "I foregoed my daily coffee and opted for water to avoid the afternoon slump."
forgives To pretend to be unable or unwilling to remember a slight or injury done, in order to avoid confrontation or make amends. ■ After the prank call that nearly ruined her career, Sarah forgives her friend for the laughs.
fudged to make a mistake, especially intentionally ■ After realizing he made a mistake on his math test, John quickly fudged the answer sheet to avoid getting caught.
Germs A tiny, invisible creature that can cause illness and disease. Often used as an excuse to avoid cleaning. ■ Why did the computer go to the doctor? Because it had a virus!
godforsaken An adjective used to describe a situation or person that is so bad, it would make even God want to avoid it. ■ After hearing the joke at the party, I realized why they call that comedian "godforsaken."
grocery A person who is extremely lazy and will go to great lengths to avoid doing anything useful. ■ "I'm a grocery every morning. I can't even bring myself to make breakfast."
hid To secretly and quickly move out of sight, often with the intention of avoiding detection or escaping from danger. ■ When the police arrived at the scene, John quickly hid behind the nearest tree to avoid being caught.
hiding The act of concealing oneself or one's belongings from view. ■ When the cat saw its owner coming, it quickly hid under the bed, hoping to avoid being caught.
homebody A person who prefers to stay at home and avoid social situations. ■ Jane is such a homebody; she'd rather watch TV all day than go out with friends.
hourglass A long-necked, narrow-mouthed container used to measure time. ■ "I need to buy an hourglass if I want to avoid being late for my meeting."
Individually The act of being or appearing to be a single, separate entity. Often used in contrast to "collectively" or "as a group." ■ John decided to eat his pizza individually to avoid any messy situations.
indoors A place where people go to avoid the sun, rain, and other outdoor elements. ■ I prefer to stay indoors during a thunderstorm because lightning scares me.
instep A part of the human foot that is located between the big toe and the arch. ■ When hiking, it's important to pay attention to your insteps to avoid blisters.
insure To guarantee that something will happen, usually by purchasing a policy or insurance contract. ■ "I insured my car with the most comprehensive policy possible to avoid any unexpected damages."
Jones The name of a person who is always in trouble, despite their best efforts to avoid it. ■ "I can't believe I got caught stealing again. It's like I have a magnetic field that attracts trouble.
jumped The act of suddenly and quickly moving both feet off the ground, usually to escape danger or avoid something. ■ "I jumped over the fence to get away from the angry dog."
Kayaking The art of navigating the waters in a kayak while simultaneously trying to avoid capsizing. ■ "I've been practicing my kayaking skills for years, but I still can't seem to master the art of not flipping over."
Lowering The act of intentionally lowering one's expectations in order to avoid disappointment. ■ When she found out her favorite restaurant was fully booked, John suggested they "lower their expectations" by trying a different place.
managed To control or direct the affairs of someone or something, often in a way that is not entirely transparent or honest. ■ "The politician managed to avoid answering the tough questions during the press conference."
Maxim A clever and amusing saying or proverb, often containing a double meaning. ■ Did you hear the one about the mathematician who's afraid of negative numbers? He'll stop at nothing to avoid them!
Med A small amount of a substance that is used to cure or prevent illness. ■ I only take a med every now and then when I'm feeling particularly down, but I try to avoid it as much as possible!
Mobster A person who is part of a group of organized criminals. ■ "The mobster was so feared in the neighborhood that people would cross the street just to avoid him."
motivations The inexplicable desire to avoid procrastination and complete tasks at the last minute, often leading to poor quality work. ■ "I can't seem to get anything done without feeling an overwhelming sense of motivation to finish it off quickly."
napping The act of pretending to be asleep in order to avoid doing something important or unpleasant. ■ "I couldn't bear the thought of going to work today, so I decided to take a little nap instead."