Word: eschew (verb)

Associations

"Eschew" means to avoid something intentionally, especially because you think it is wrong or not good. It is often used in formal or serious contexts.

• Example 1: "Many people eschew smoking because it is harmful to health." Here, it means they avoid smoking on purpose.
• Example 2: "She eschews gossip to maintain good relationships." This means she avoids talking about others negatively.
• Example 3: "The company eschews shortcuts to ensure quality." This means the company avoids quick but bad methods.

A well-known synonym is "avoid." The difference is that "eschew" is more formal and often suggests a moral or careful reason for avoiding something, while "avoid" is more general and common.

Substitution

Instead of "eschew," you can use:

• avoid (more common and general)
• shun (stronger, often social rejection)
• abstain from (used mostly for habits or actions, like drinking or smoking) Changing the word changes the tone: "shun" sounds stronger and more social, "abstain" is often about personal choice or discipline.

Deconstruction

"Eschew" comes from Old French "eschiver," meaning to escape or avoid. It has no common English prefix or suffix but is a single verb. The root idea is to keep away from something deliberately.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a habit or thing you might want to eschew for your health or happiness?
• How is "eschew" different from just "not doing" something? Why might someone choose to use this word?
• In what situations would it be better to say "eschew" rather than "avoid"?