avoiding
Keeping one's distance
Avoiding is the act of staying away from something or preventing it from happening.
You might be avoiding a person, a topic, a task, or a collision.
The word often implies deliberate evasion: She's been avoiding my calls, He's avoiding the question.
Sometimes it suggests prudent prevention: avoiding unnecessary risk.
Avoiding by moving aside
- eludingEscaping or avoiding skillfully
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- skirtingAvoiding by going around
- circumventingAvoiding by going around
ducking · deflecting · bypassing · escaping · slipping · outmaneuvering · diverting · shirking
Cautious distrust
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- carefulnessQuality of being thorough
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
heedfulness · discretion · foresight · alertness · mindfulness · watchfulness · judiciousness · hesitation
Skillful directional control
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- diversionRedirection of attention
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
subterfuge · camouflage · stealth · countermeasure · retreat · withdrawal · repositioning · feint
Emotional response to threat
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
trepidation · nervousness · unease · discomfort · squeamishness · reluctance · resistance · repulsion
Protecting from harm
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- shelterProtected place or structure
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
buffer · defense · screening · covering · guarding · blockade · fortification · armor
Preventive safety measure
- prophylaxisPreventive medical treatment
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- safeguardingPreventing harm or loss
- immunizationProtective medical injection
vaccination · quarantine · abstinence · contraception · sanitation · disinfection · filtering · inoculation
dodging
Avoiding by moving aside
- eludingEscaping or avoiding skillfully
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- skirtingAvoiding by going around
circumventing · ducking · deflecting · bypassing · escaping · slipping · outmaneuvering · diverting · shirking · evading
wariness
Cautious distrust
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- carefulnessQuality of being thorough
circumspection · heedfulness · discretion · foresight · alertness · mindfulness · watchfulness · judiciousness · hesitation · skepticism
maneuvering
Skillful directional control
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- diversionRedirection of attention
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
misdirection · subterfuge · camouflage · stealth · countermeasure · retreat · withdrawal · repositioning · feint · disguise
fear
Emotional response to threat
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
apprehension · trepidation · nervousness · unease · discomfort · squeamishness · reluctance · resistance · repulsion · distaste
shielding
Protecting from harm
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- shelterProtected place or structure
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
barrier · buffer · defense · screening · covering · guarding · blockade · fortification · armor · refuge
precaution
Preventive safety measure
- prophylaxisPreventive medical treatment
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- safeguardingPreventing harm or loss
immunization · vaccination · quarantine · abstinence · contraception · sanitation · disinfection · filtering · inoculation · sterilization
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- evasionevasion, evade, dodging, dodge, evasions
- withdrawalwithdrawing, cash withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, early withdrawal, fund withdrawal
- abstinencesobriety, celibacy, chastity, teetotalism, fasting
- conflict responsesconfrontation, compromise, accommodation, aggression, withdrawal
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
avoidingconfronting
Addressing directly
facing · addressing · engaging · tackling · dealing with
- avoiding eye contactNot meeting someone's look
- avoiding like the plagueExtreme deliberate evasion
- avoiding crowdsSteering clear of masses
avoid, avoided, avoidance, unavoidable, avoids, avoidable, avoidant, unavoidably, avoider