To eschew something means to deliberately avoid it or stay away from it, usually because you believe it's wrong, harmful, or just not right for you. It's a more formal and intentional word than simply “avoid.”

When successful athletes eschew junk food, they make a conscious, ongoing choice to keep it out of their lives because they know it doesn't help them reach their goals. A writer might eschew fancy vocabulary in favor of simple, clear words that everyone can understand. Some families eschew television during dinner, choosing instead to talk and connect with each other.

The word carries a sense of principle or purpose. You don't eschew broccoli just because you don't like it; you might eschew gossip because you've decided it's hurtful. Scientists eschew shortcuts in their research because accuracy matters more than speed.

Eschew suggests a firm, ongoing choice rather than a one-time decision. It's the difference between occasionally skipping dessert and genuinely eschewing sweets as part of how you live. When you eschew something, you're making a statement about your values and what you stand for.