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If you abjure a belief or a way of behaving, you state publicly that you will give it up or reject it.
Your abnegation of something is your giving up your rights or claim to it, even though it might not be in your best interest to do so.
When you abscond, you leave suddenly from a place that has imprisoned or persecuted you, or you leave from a place with something that doesn’t belong to you.
Abstinence is the practice of keeping away from or avoiding something you enjoy—such as the physical pleasures of excessive food and drink—usually for health or religious reasons.
You accost a stranger when you move towards them and speak in an unpleasant or threatening way.
When you adjure someone to do something, you persuade, eagerly appeal, or solemnly order them to do it.
You affront someone by openly and intentionally offending or insulting him.
When something bedevils you, it causes you a lot of problems and difficulties over a period of time.
When you beleaguer someone, you act with the intent to annoy or harass that person repeatedly until they finally give you what you want.
If you are beset by something, you are experiencing serious problems or dangers because of it.
If you circumvent something, such as a rule or restriction, you try to get around it in a clever and perhaps dishonest way.
You coerce people when you force them to do something that they don’t want to do.
If something discomfits you, it makes you feel embarrassed, confused, uncomfortable, or frustrated.
If something disconcerts you, it makes you feel anxious, worried, or confused.
When someone feels disquiet about a situation, they feel very worried or nervous.
Duress is the application or threat of force to compel someone to act in a particular way.
If a fact or idea eludes you, you cannot remember or understand it; if you elude someone, you manage to escape or hide from them.
If you emulate someone, you try to behave the same way they do because you admire them a great deal.
If something encumbers you, it makes it difficult for you to move freely or do what you want.
When someone entices you into doing something, they are trying to lure, tempt, or attract you into doing it in a persuasive manner.
If you expostulate with someone, you express strong disagreement with or disapproval of what that person is doing.
A feint is the act of pretending to make a movement in one direction while actually moving in the other, especially to trick an opponent; a feint can also be a deceptive act meant to turn attention away from one’s true purpose.
When you incite someone to do something, you encourage, urge, or highly persuade them to do it.
An interlocutor is the person with whom you are having a (usually formal) conversation or discussion.
To parry is to ward something off or deflect it.
If you refrain from doing something, you do not do it—even though you want to.
To remonstrate with someone is to tell that person that you strongly disapprove of something they have said or done.
If you sidle, you walk slowly, cautiously and often sideways in a particular direction, usually because you do not want to be noticed.
Something that stymies you presents an obstacle that prevents you from doing what you need or want to do.
A teetotaler is one who does not drink alcohol.
Verb
eschew
es-CHOO
Context
My brother and his wife choose to avoid the craziness of the winter holidays, eschewing fancy Christmas celebrations. They eschew or steer clear of decorating a tree with lights or putting up garlands. They deliberately eschew or avoid at all costs what they see as a widespread commercialization of a holy season. My nieces and nephews, however, do not want to give up or eschew their tower of Christmas gifts just because their parents don’t believe in the season.
EschewChewing Once I chewed tobacco, but now I eschewchewing because I found out it can cause mouth cancer.
Examples
Egypt’s oldest and largest Islamist group did eschew violence in the 1970s, and now proclaims a belief in freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
—
The Economist
Just to get through the day, it’s necessary to lower voices, modulate tempers, eschew insults, voice soft lies — compromise, compromise, compromise.
—
The Washington Post
As long as you eschew certain ancient Pagan practices — most notable of which is human sacrifice — I have no problem with you beyond the obvious.'
—
The Washington Post
A spectator shows his determination to get to the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., which has attracted tens of thousands of young fans who would normally eschew the ski resort’s 400-a-night hotel rates.
—
The Washington Post
Word Ingredients
From a root word meaning “to avoid.”
Word Theater
Home Improvement Aliens apparently eschew well-lit housing.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!