eschewing

Eschewing is the act of deliberately avoiding or abstaining from something, often for ethical, health, practical, or strategic reasons. It can describe a general stance or a specific choice, and is commonly used in formal or scholarly discourse.

The term derives from Middle English escheuen or eschewe, from Old French eschewer, meaning "to shun" or "to avoid." It entered standard English by the 14th century and today retains a formal, slightly archaic flavor.

Eschew is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, as in "eschew processed foods" or "eschew alcohol." The -ing form "eschewing" can function as a noun or as a gerund, as in "eschewing violence is a core principle." The sense is deliberately moral or principled, and it is more formal than synonyms like avoid or refrain; it is not synonymous with evading, which emphasizes escape from responsibility.

Examples: In health discourse, people may eschew sugar for dietary reasons. In ethics or environmental debates, individuals or organizations may eschew meat or animal products. In diplomacy or religious contexts, leaders may urge communities to eschew hatred or violence.

Related terms include abstain, refrain, renounce, avoid, and shun; the noun eschewal; and the verb eschewer, one who eschews.