avoid confronting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid confronting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of steering clear of direct engagement or confrontation with someone or something. Example: "In order to maintain peace, she decided to avoid confronting her colleague about the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This allows politicians to avoid confronting their true record.

Harvard Business Review

Historically, though, opera tended to avoid confronting the technological head-on.

The New York Times - Arts

Most feminists and women's advocates avoid confronting this issue; others, like Paul, prefer to minimize it.

The New York Times - Books

But many football fans avoid confronting this central aspect of the game.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was declared insane to avoid confronting how deep into society the xenophobic ideology went.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's just that most of the time we'd rather avoid confronting that fact.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Left to their own devices, people will game the system to avoid confronting the unpleasant.

Harvard Business Review

In many companies, ambitious executives may try to avoid confronting sensitive issues or making waves.

Harvard Business Review

Its two main airlines initially complied, re-routing flights around the zone to avoid confronting the Chinese.

Independent

Six silent killers of strategy implementation exist in most companies, but too many managers avoid confronting them.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In it, the minister said he had thought he could avoid confronting a past which he "wanted" to be over.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to emphasize the deliberate avoidance of a difficult or unpleasant situation, use the phrase "avoid confronting" to highlight the choice being made.

Common error

While "avoid confronting" is suitable for many contexts, be mindful of overly formal situations. In highly formal writing, consider alternatives like "refrain from addressing" or "eschew direct engagement" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid confronting" functions as a verb phrase, where "avoid" is the main verb and "confronting" is a gerund acting as the object. It indicates the action of intentionally preventing or steering clear of a direct encounter or disagreement. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "avoid confronting" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe the action of deliberately steering clear of a potentially challenging or unpleasant situation. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, confirming its widespread applicability across various contexts. While the phrase is generally appropriate for neutral registers, consider using more formal alternatives in highly professional settings. Remember to use "avoid confronting" when you want to emphasize the conscious decision to prevent conflict or maintain harmony, and be mindful of the potential downsides of evading necessary discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shun confrontation

Emphasizes the act of deliberately staying away from a disagreement or conflict.

evade a confrontation

Highlights the act of skillfully escaping or dodging an impending confrontation.

sidestep confrontation

Suggests a maneuver to bypass or go around a potential confrontation.

dodge confrontation

Focuses on quickly moving out of the way to avoid a confrontation.

skirt the issue

Implies avoiding a topic or problem rather than directly addressing it.

steer clear of conflict

Highlights the intention to stay away from any form of conflict.

pass up an altercation

Focuses on deciding not to engage in a verbal dispute.

decline to face

Highlights a deliberate decision not to meet or engage with a challenge or problem.

escape a quarrel

Suggests managing to get away from a developing argument.

keep from fighting

Indicates an effort to prevent a physical or verbal fight.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid confronting" in a sentence?

You can use "avoid confronting" to describe situations where someone chooses not to directly address a problem or issue. For example, "The company decided to "avoid confronting" the environmental concerns to save money".

What are some alternatives to "avoid confronting"?

Some alternatives to "avoid confronting" include phrases like "shun confrontation", "evade a confrontation", or "sidestep confrontation". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to "avoid confronting" or to address the issue directly?

Whether to "avoid confronting" an issue or address it directly depends on the situation. Sometimes, avoiding confrontation can de-escalate a tense situation, while other times, direct communication is necessary to resolve the problem.

What's the difference between "avoid confronting" and "ignore"?

While both imply not addressing something, "avoid confronting" suggests a deliberate choice to steer clear of a potentially difficult interaction. "Ignore", on the other hand, implies a complete lack of attention to the matter, without necessarily implying a choice to avoid something.