Eschew

Eschew is a verb meaning to deliberately avoid, abstain from, or shun something. It implies a purposeful decision not to engage with a thing or practice, often for ethical, practical, or health reasons. For example, one might eschew processed foods, eschew violence, or eschew excessive consumption in favor of sustainability.

Eschew is more formal and literary in register than common synonyms such as avoid or shun. It is frequently found in written prose, speeches, and persuasive writing. It can take a direct object (eschew something) or be used with a gerund (eschewing tobacco).

Etymology: the word derives from Middle English escheuen, from Old French eschewer, meaning to reject or avoid. The modern sense of deliberate avoidance developed in English over time.

In modern writing, eschew tends to appear in formal or rhetorical contexts, often signaling a principled choice rather than a mere preference.