Avoid
Avoid verb - To get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery.
Usage example: trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like
Shirk is a synonym for avoid in prevent topic. In some cases you can use "Shirk" instead a verb "Avoid", when it comes to topics like elude, evade, turn away. popular alternative
Shirk
Shirk verb - To get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery.
Usage example: you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you “forgot” your wallet
Avoid is a synonym for shirk in evade topic. You can use "Avoid" instead a verb "Shirk", if it concerns topics such as dodge, elude, turn away. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
| work | avoid work | shirk work |
| people | avoid people | shirk people |
| responsibility | avoid responsibility | shirk responsibility |
Cite this Source
Shirk and Avoid. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/avoid/shirk
Avoid & Shirk. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/avoid/shirk>.
Shirk or Avoid. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/avoid/shirk.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "avoid" and "shirk" have occurred on timeline