What does shunned mean?
“Shunned” is the past tense and past participle of “shun,” meaning to deliberately avoid, reject, or distance oneself from someone or something. It is stronger and more deliberate than simply failing to notice or overlook a person or thing. The word often implies social exclusion, moral judgment, or firm opposition, as in “the community shunned the newcomer” or “she shunned the opportunity.” In contemporary English, it is especially common in phrases such as “shunned by the public” and “shun the spotlight.” While it can describe avoidance of an undesirable object, such as a risk or responsibility, its typical implication is that the avoidance is a considered response to dislike, disapproval, or prejudice. The somewhat old-fashioned, formal register gives the word a sense of deliberate and sustained rejection.
verbDeliberately avoid or refuse to associate with someone or something. It can also mean to reject or disregard something out of strong dislike or disapproval.
- To deliberately avoid or refuse to associate with someone or something.
- To reject or disregard something because of strong dislike or disapproval.
"The shy artist shunned the spotlight and continued to work behind the scenes."
"The community shunned the outsider for many years."
"She shunned the offer rather than accept terms she considered unfair."
To shun something is to make your distance clear, often with the strength of conviction behind the refusal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shunned come from?
The word comes from the English verb “shun,” which developed from Old English “shunian,” meaning to avoid or flee from. The modern form has remained stable in English for centuries, while “shunned” is its regular past tense and past participle. Related forms include the agent noun “shunner” and the quality noun “shunness.”
Related word forms
How shunned is actually used
The verb is formal and often carries a strong connotation of deliberate avoidance or moral disapproval. “Shunned by” commonly describes persistent rejection by a group or individual.
Easily confused with shunned
“Shun” is the base form of the verb, while “shunned” is its past tense and past participle.
“Shunned” means deliberately avoided, whereas “sounded” can mean made a noise or was accompanied by a noise.