shun
To avoid someone or something on purpose.
shun in a sentence
- After the argument, the other geese shunned the noisy gander and swam to the far bank.
- Hedgehogs shun the daylight, staying hidden until dark before trotting out to feed.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to shun?
- Agreet
- Bavoid
- Cwelcome
- Daccept
Show the answer
B: avoid. The other three mean the opposite of shun.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to shun?
- Adodge
- Bavoid
- Cwelcome
- Dignore
Show the answer
C: welcome. The other three mean nearly the same as shun.
Words that mean something similar
avoid, dodge, ignore
Words that mean the opposite
welcome, accept, greet
More words about behaviour & manners
- sneer: To smile in a nasty way that shows you look down on someone; or that nasty smile.
- spontaneous: Done suddenly without planning it first.
- squander: To waste money or time in a careless way.
- submissive: Always willing to obey others without arguing.
- submit: To give in to someone, or to hand in work for someone to judge.
- subterfuge: A trick used to hide what you are really doing, or to get your own way.
- succumb: To give in to something you have been fighting against.
- swagger: To walk in a proud, show-off way; or that proud way of walking.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test