evade punishment

USAGE SUMMARY

"evade punishment" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe someone’s attempt to avoid the consequences of an illegal or unethical action. For example, "The criminal was convicted, but managed to evade punishment by using her political connections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Once again, newspaper readers helped a stowaway evade punishment.

The New Yorker

Gard deleted the three messages he had sent while speeding towards Lee, in an attempt to evade punishment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Congressmen are also trying to ban plea bargains and to pass an amnesty law that would allow many of them to evade punishment.

The Guardian

If some wrongdoers managed to evade punishment because of lack of evidence, they saw their careers compromised or downgraded because of the inquiry.

The New York Times

Sultana Kamal, a prominent human rights leader in Dhaka, said that she disagreed with the calls for the death penalty, but that they reflected the cynicism of Bangladeshis who have seen war criminals evade punishment for decades.

The New York Times

Pakistani men who kill their female relatives in the name of honour will no longer be able to evade punishment after the country's parliament finally passed long-promised legislation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Bribery remains a viable means of evading punishment, too.

The Guardian

He watched as a corrupt commander evaded punishment through connections with high-ranking Isis figures.

The Guardian

Braun may draw particular scrutiny from baseball officials because they were angered that he evaded punishment last year on what they viewed as a technicality.

The New York Times - Sports

Over 20 years later he was implicated in bombings of Havana hotels.Mr Posada has largely evaded punishment for these crimes.

The Economist

He's been charged with indecency in Senegal and Gambia for painting nude prostitutes, and in Kenya, where he was charged with witchcraft, he narrowly evaded punishment by hiding in a forest.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "evade punishment", ensure the context clearly indicates what type of punishment is being avoided (legal, social, etc.).

Common error

While "evade punishment" is grammatically correct, consider using more casual alternatives like "get away with it" in informal conversations to better suit the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "evade punishment" functions as a verb phrase, with "evade" acting as the verb and "punishment" as the direct object. It describes the action of successfully avoiding a negative consequence. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "evade punishment" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe the act of successfully avoiding consequences for wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's suitable for describing attempts to escape the repercussions of illegal or unethical actions. While versatile, its usage leans toward neutral and formal contexts, often appearing in news and media, academic, and science-related articles. For more casual conversations, alternatives like "get away with it" might be more appropriate. The most authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker, reflecting its prevalence in quality journalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade justice

Specifically refers to not facing legal repercussions.

escape penalty

Focuses specifically on avoiding a formal penalty or fine.

dodge sanction

Highlights the act of preventing the application of a sanction.

avoid consequences

Broader; includes non-legal ramifications.

bypass penalty

Indicates avoiding a penalty via alternative routes or methods.

get away with

More informal, implies a successful evasion of wrongdoing.

skirt responsibility

Focuses on avoiding accountability.

sidestep retribution

Suggests avoiding revenge or retaliation.

outrun the law

Figurative; implies a chase or pursuit by legal authorities.

cheat the system

Implies using loopholes or unfair means to avoid consequences.

FAQs

How to use "evade punishment" in a sentence?

You can use "evade punishment" to describe someone who avoids the consequences of their actions, such as "The politician tried to evade punishment for his crimes."

What can I say instead of "evade punishment"?

You can use alternatives like "escape penalty", "avoid consequences", or "get away with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "evade punishment" or "avoid punishment"?

Both "evade punishment" and "avoid punishment" are grammatically correct. "Evade" suggests skillful or strategic avoidance, while "avoid" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "evade punishment" and "escape punishment"?

"Evade punishment" implies actively avoiding or dodging consequences, while "escape punishment" suggests successfully freeing oneself from impending consequences. Both are correct but have slightly different nuances.