avoidance
She practices avoidance by ignoring her emails when stressed.
She deliberately avoids dealing with her emails when she feels overwhelmed.
The act of keeping away from someone or something
His avoidance of social gatherings made people wonder about his health.
Because he never attends parties or meetings, people started to worry about him.
Can refer to physical or emotional distancing.
The practice of deliberately not addressing a problem or issue
Her avoidance of conflict led to unresolved tensions in the team.
Because she never confronted problems directly, the team's issues never got resolved.
Common in discussions about coping mechanisms and mental health.
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Pro Tip
Common Usage
Avoidance can be both physical (e.g., avoiding a place) or psychological (e.g., avoiding a difficult conversation).
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
In formal contexts, 'avoidance' is preferred over slang like 'dodging' or 'skipping.'
Word Origin
From Middle English 'avoidance,' from Old French 'avoidier,' from 'a-' (to) + 'void' (empty).
Usage Notes
Often used in psychology to describe coping mechanisms. Can be literal (physical avoidance) or figurative (emotional avoidance).