shunning

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "shunning" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the act of deliberately avoiding or rejecting someone or something. Example: "She was shunning her former friends after the incident." Alternative expressions include "avoiding" and "rejecting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Schools must "support the rule of English civil and criminal law", shunning anything that undermines it.

The Guardian

Of course, she says, "freshly picked mangoes taste so much more fragrant and aromatic", but you don't see her shunning the fruit back in Blighty as a result.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Having caught an early ferry from Lucerne, I disembarked at Weggis and followed the Mark Twain Trail – the American writer made his own Rigi pilgrimage in 1897 (also shunning the train), and reckoned this was "the charmingest place we have ever lived".

The Guardian - Travel

Some famous people make the mistake of shunning social media or using false names, leaving the field open for imposters who can do serious damage.

The Guardian

We and our families will pay the price in terms of disability and death for the coalition government pursuing the responsibility deal and shunning more effective policies".

The Guardian

Several other European countries, such as Italy and Spain, are going through their own banking consolidation, and are shunning cross-border mergers, preferring to find economies at home.

The Economist

By shunning unwise foreign entanglements, Mr Obama will be free to focus on nation-building at home.

The Economist

Shoppers are shunning packaged foods stacked in the centre of the supermarket in favour of fresher provisions ranged along the periphery.

The Economist

Meanwhile, passengers have been shunning railways for decades because fuel is cheap and the road network good.What lies ahead?

The Economist

The more so because their own partners typically invest heavily in their deals, they have no tolerance for overpriced acquisitions, luxurious head offices and other signs of the empire-building that have characterised many conglomerates.The private-equity firms might want to know, however, that just as they are shunning the label of "conglomerate", the term may be on the way back into fashion.

The Economist

When America's $700 billion rescue package stalled in Congress, Willem Buiter, an economics professor, prolific blogger and honorary Brit, joked that his "remaining financial wealth is now kept in a (small) old sock in an undisclosed location".A worried saver, such as Mr Buiter, shunning banks for the safety of hosiery, still faces a choice about what store of value to use as stocking filler.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shunning" when you want to emphasize a deliberate act of avoidance, often with a negative or moral connotation. It's stronger than simply 'avoiding'.

Common error

Avoid using "shunning" when a more neutral term like "avoiding" or "bypassing" would be more appropriate. "Shunning" carries a stronger connotation of deliberate rejection.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shunning" is as a gerund or present participle, functioning as a noun or part of a continuous verb form. Ludwig examples show it describing actions of avoidance or rejection.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shunning" is a versatile term primarily used as a verb, signifying the act of deliberately avoiding someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse contexts, notably in News & Media. While alternatives such as "avoiding", "eschewing", and "rejecting" exist, "shunning" often carries a stronger connotation of intentional rejection. Remember to consider the context carefully to ensure the most appropriate word choice, avoiding overuse in situations where a more neutral term would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoiding

Implies a general act of keeping away from something or someone.

rejecting

Indicates a firm refusal to accept or consider something.

eschewing

Suggests a more deliberate and often moral rejection of something.

turning away from

Indicates a deliberate decision to abandon or reject something.

spurning

Implies rejecting something with disdain or contempt.

bypassing

Means going around or ignoring something.

evading

Implies skillful or cunning avoidance.

forgoing

Suggests giving up or doing without something.

abstaining from

Indicates voluntarily choosing not to do something, often for health or moral reasons.

circumventing

Suggests finding a way around something, often a rule or obstacle.

FAQs

How to use "shunning" in a sentence?

"Shunning" is typically used to describe the act of deliberately avoiding or rejecting someone or something. For example: "The community was "shunning" him after the scandal."

What can I say instead of "shunning"?

You can use alternatives like "avoiding", "eschewing", or "rejecting" depending on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "shunning" or "avoiding"?

Both "shunning" and "avoiding" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Shunning" implies a deliberate and often moral rejection, while "avoiding" is a more general term for keeping away from something.

What's the difference between "shunning" and "ostracizing"?

"Shunning" is often a personal act of avoidance, while "ostracizing" implies a group or community excluding someone. Both involve rejection, but the scale and intent differ.