shunned

/ʃʌnd/
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Deliberate avoidance in the past, or the excluded state of a person, idea, or thing treated as unwelcome.

Examples

  • He had shunned advice until the problem became urgent.
  • She shunned publicity and rarely gave interviews.
  • He felt shunned after his friends stopped replying.
  • The village shunned anyone who broke its strict rules.
  • The shunned neighbor ate alone at community dinners.

Similar words

boycotted
spurned
snubbed
unwelcome
ostracized
avoided
spurned
ostracized
snubbed
eschewed

Meanings

Avoided deliberately

verb
social
neutral
Avoided a person, place, practice, or idea on purpose, often from dislike, caution, fear, or disapproval.

Examples

  • After the dispute, he shunned family gatherings for years.
  • The committee shunned shortcuts that might weaken the evidence.
  • Investors shunned the stock after the safety report.
  • She shunned publicity and rarely gave interviews.
  • The village shunned anyone who broke its strict rules.
  • He had shunned advice until the problem became urgent.

Similar words

Rejected by others

adjective
social
neutral
Avoided or excluded by others in a way that marks someone or something as unwelcome.

Examples

  • The shunned neighbor ate alone at community dinners.
  • Once shunned, the proposal later became standard policy.
  • He felt shunned after his friends stopped replying.
  • A shunned group may form its own support network.
  • The shunned artist found an audience years later.
  • For years, the treatment was shunned by mainstream doctors.

Similar words

Etymology

From the verb shun, from Middle English shunnen or shonen, from Old English scunian, meaning to avoid, shrink from, or seek safety from something. The older verb is of uncertain origin.

FAQ

What does shunned mean?

Shunned means deliberately avoided, rejected, or kept outside contact, often because of disapproval or caution.

Is shunned a verb or an adjective?

Shunned is the past simple and past participle of shun, and it is also used adjectivally for someone or something that has been avoided.

Does shunned always mean socially rejected?

No. Social rejection is common, but an idea, practice, place, investment, or public attention can also be shunned.

What is a good synonym for shunned?

Good choices include avoided, ostracized, rejected, snubbed, and eschewed, depending on the context.

Where does shunned come from?

It comes from shun, which goes back through Middle English to Old English scunian, a verb meaning to avoid or shrink from something.

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