What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shirk
Example
He always tries to shirk his work and leave early. [shirk: verb]
Example
Shirking responsibilities will only lead to negative consequences. [shirking: gerund or present participle]
avoid
Example
I try to avoid eating junk food to stay healthy. [avoid: verb]
Example
She avoided the topic of politics during the dinner conversation. [avoided: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Avoid is more commonly used than shirk in everyday language. Avoid is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shirk is less common and refers to a specific type of avoidance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shirk and avoid?
While avoid is versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, shirk is typically associated with a more informal tone and is less appropriate for formal contexts.
