Ignore vs. Avoid: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
"Ignore" means to deliberately overlook or disregard, while "Avoid" means to intentionally steer clear of or prevent.
Key Differences
"Ignore" and "Avoid" are both verbs that indicate a conscious decision to not engage with something or someone. "Ignore" specifically means to intentionally not notice, acknowledge, or pay attention to something, often because of indifference or distraction.
"Avoid," on the other hand, has a more proactive connotation. It implies that there's a conscious effort to stay away from something, typically because of perceived harm, discomfort, or undesirability. While "Ignore" suggests a passive omission, "Avoid" suggests active evasion.
Consider the context of interpersonal relationships. To "Ignore" someone might mean not responding to their messages or pretending not to hear them in conversation. Conversely, to "Avoid" someone would involve actions like changing one's route to not cross paths with them or declining invitations where they might be present.
In practical scenarios, one might "Ignore" a minor error in a report by choosing not to address it, believing it's inconsequential. On the other hand, one might "Avoid" a particular route home because it's known for heavy traffic.
In essence, while both "Ignore" and "Avoid" involve a form of non-engagement, "Ignore" leans towards neglect or disregard, while "Avoid" indicates deliberate evasion or prevention.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Passive
Active
Intent
Disregard or overlook
Stay clear of or prevent
Context
Often used in scenarios of inattention
Used when proactively preventing or evading
Example in Action
Not responding to a message
Declining an invitation to a gathering
Result
Lack of acknowledgment
Preventative or evasive action
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Ignore and Avoid Definitions
Ignore
Disregard deliberately
She Ignored the ringing phone, focusing on her work.
Avoid
Keep away from or prevent
I Avoid walking in the park after dark.
Ignore
Refrain from noticing or recognizing
I chose to Ignore the offensive comment.
Avoid
Evade or shun
He tries to Avoid confrontations at all costs.
Ignore
Overlook or neglect
They decided to Ignore the minor discrepancies in the report.
Avoid
Refrain from doing or using
To stay healthy, she Avoids processed foods.
Ignore
Fail to consider
The plan Ignores the needs of the local community.
Avoid
To stay clear of; go around or away from
Swerve to avoid a pothole.
Ignore
To refuse to pay attention to; disregard.
Avoid
To take measures so as not to meet or see (someone)
"He never let go of the idea that she lived out there in order to avoid him" (Elizabeth Benedict).
Ignore
To deliberately not listen or pay attention to.
A problem ignored is a problem doubled.
Avoid
To prevent from happening
You can avoid illness with exercise and a balanced diet.
Ignore
To pretend to not notice someone or something.
Avoid
To refrain from using, engaging in, or partaking of
Avoid red meat.
Avoid risky behavior.
Ignore
(obsolete) Fail to notice.
Avoid
To refrain from (doing something)
It was all we could do to avoid laughing at the remark.
Ignore
(obsolete) Not to know.
Avoid
(Law) To annul or make void; invalidate.
Ignore
To be ignorant of or not acquainted with.
Philosophy would solidly be established, if men would more carefully distinguish those things that they know from those that they ignore.
Avoid
(Obsolete) To void or expel.
Ignore
To throw out or reject as false or ungrounded; - said of a bill rejected by a grand jury for lack of evidence. See Ignoramus.
Avoid
(transitive) To try not to meet or communicate with (a person); to shun
Ignore
Hence: To refuse to take notice of; to shut the eyes to; not to recognize; to disregard willfully and causelessly; as, to ignore certain facts; to ignore the presence of an objectionable person.
Ignoring Italy under our feet,And seeing things before, behind.
Avoid
(transitive) To stay out of the way of (something harmful).
I avoided the slap easily.
One town was flooded from the storm, while the other town avoided the storm.
Ignore
Refuse to acknowledge;
She cut him dead at the meeting
Avoid
To keep away from; to keep clear of; to stay away from
I try to avoid the company of gamblers.
Ignore
Bar from attention or consideration;
She dismissed his advances
Avoid
To try not to do something or to have something happen
Ignore
Fail to notice
Avoid
To make empty; to clear.
Ignore
Give little or no attention to;
Disregard the errors
Avoid
To make void, to annul; to refute (especially a contract).
Ignore
Be ignorant of or in the dark about
Avoid
To defeat or evade; to invalidate.
Ignore
Treat as unworthy of attention
He Ignored the critics and continued with his artistic vision.
Avoid
To emit or throw out; to void.
Avoid
To leave, evacuate; to leave as empty, to withdraw or come away from.
Avoid
To get rid of.
Avoid
To retire; to withdraw, depart, go away.
Avoid
To become void or vacant.
Avoid
To empty.
Avoid
To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions.
Avoid
To quit or evacuate; to withdraw from.
Six of us only stayed, and the rest avoidedthe room.
Avoid
To make void; to annul or vacate; to refute.
How can these grants of the king's be avoided?
Avoid
To keep away from; to keep clear of; to endeavor no to meet; to shun; to abstain from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.
What need a man forestall his date of grief.And run to meet what he would most avoid ?
He carefully avoided every act which could goad them into open hostility.
Avoid
To get rid of.
Avoid
To defeat or evade; to invalidate. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by stating new matter.
No man can pray from his heart to be kept from temptation, if the take no care of himself to avoid it.
So Chanticleer, who never saw a fox,Yet shunned him as a sailor shuns the rocks.
Avoid
To retire; to withdraw.
David avoided out of his presence.
Avoid
To become void or vacant.
Avoid
Stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something;
Her former friends now avoid her
Avoid
Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening;
Let's avoid a confrontation
Head off a confrontation
Avert a strike
Avoid
Refrain from doing something;
She refrains from calling her therapist too often
He should avoid publishing his wife's memoires
Avoid
Refrain from certain foods or beverages;
I keep off drugs
During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day
Avoid
Declare invalid;
The contract was annulled
Void a plea
Avoid
Prevent from happening
To Avoid accidents, always wear a seatbelt.
Avoid
Decline to commit oneself
She Avoided answering the direct question.
FAQs
Does Avoiding always involve a deliberate action?
Yes, to Avoid implies a conscious effort to steer clear of something.
Can you Ignore a problem but not Avoid it?
Yes, you can Ignore a problem by not addressing it but still face its consequences without Avoiding it.
Can a business Avoid a risk but not Ignore it?
Yes, businesses can take steps to Avoid risks but still be aware and not Ignore them.
Is Ignoring always a passive action?
Generally, yes; to Ignore is to passively overlook or not acknowledge.
Can you Ignore and Avoid someone at the same time?
Yes, you can Avoid meeting someone and also Ignore their attempts to contact you.
What's the opposite of Avoid?
Embrace or confront.
Is it always negative to Ignore or Avoid?
No, sometimes it's beneficial to Avoid potential harm or Ignore distractions.
Is Ignoring always intentional?
Often, but not always. One might unintentionally Ignore something out of distraction.
Can you Avoid a responsibility but not Ignore it?
Yes, one might Avoid taking action on a responsibility but still be aware of it without Ignoring it.
Can an issue be Ignored indefinitely?
It's possible, but often unaddressed issues might grow or lead to consequences that cannot be Avoided.
Can you Avoid a question but not Ignore it?
Yes, you can Avoid answering directly but still acknowledge or be aware of the question without Ignoring it.
Can a business Ignore a trend but not Avoid it?
Yes, a business can Ignore or not actively engage with a trend, but its impacts might still affect the business if not Avoided.
Is it harmful to Always Avoid confrontations?
Continually Avoiding can prevent resolution, but sometimes it's wise to Avoid certain confrontations for safety or peace.
Is it always rude to Ignore?
Often it can be perceived as rude, but context matters; sometimes, Ignoring might be unintentional or necessary.
Why might someone Avoid a topic in conversation?
They might find it uncomfortable, triggering, or inappropriate, hence they Avoid it.
Can you Ignore advice but not Avoid it?
Yes, you can hear and Ignore advice without taking it, even if you don't Avoid the person giving it.
Is it better to Ignore negativity or Avoid it?
It depends; sometimes it's best to Ignore negativity, and at other times, it's healthier to Avoid sources of negativity.
Can one Ignore an obligation but not Avoid its consequences?
Absolutely, one can Ignore an obligation, but the consequences might still arise if not Avoided.
Can you Ignore a danger but not Avoid it?
Yes, you might Ignore a danger by not acknowledging it but still face it if not Avoided.
Is Ignoring the same as forgetting?
No, Ignoring is a conscious act of overlooking, while forgetting is unintentional.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
