avoider

An avoider is a person or thing that avoids something. In everyday language, it describes someone who habitually evades tasks, responsibilities, or uncomfortable situations. The term is a straightforward agent noun formed from the verb avoid and the suffix -er, and it is less technical than terms like avoidant or avoidance.

In psychology and related fields, avoidant behavior is studied as a response to perceived threat or distress. While “avoidant” is more common in clinical contexts, “avoider” may appear in descriptive writing or case notes to denote a person who tends to evade rather than confront stimuli. The word should be used carefully to avoid stigmatizing individuals who employ coping strategies to manage anxiety or risk.

Examples of usage include someone who declines social invitations to reduce perceived social risk, or a person who postpones tasks to avoid failure or discomfort. In broader settings such as risk management or systems analysis, an avoider can describe an agent or process that minimizes exposure to certain risks rather than pursuing active engagement or reward.

Related terms include avoidance, avoidant, avoidance coping, and avoidant personality disorder. See also avoidant attachment style and risk avoidance. Note that “avoider” is not a formal diagnosis; when describing behavior, it is typically better to use precise phrases like avoidance strategies or avoidant tendencies.