MEANING
To deliberately avoid or reject a person, group, or thing, often as a sign of disapproval.
Use it for
Show deliberate avoidance or social rejection.Describe purposeful avoidance, especially when it signals rejection or shame.
Words that belong together
- shun a person
- shun publicity
- shun a place
On the page
After the trial, the neighbors shunned the family who had testified.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- shun
- Past tense
- shunned
- Past participle
- shunned
- Present participle
- shunning
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- shun
- Present continuous
- am/is/are shunning
- Present perfect
- have/has shunned
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been shunning
- Past
- shunned
- Past continuous
- was/were shunning
- Past perfect
- had shunned
- Past perfect continuous
- had been shunning
- Future
- will shun
- Future continuous
- will be shunning
- Future perfect
- will have shunned
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been shunning
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Stronger and more intentional than simply avoiding something; it can imply social rejection or deliberate refusal.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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