Shunner

A 'shunner' is an individual who deliberately avoids interaction or association with a person, group, or activity. This avoidance can manifest in various ways, including ignoring, ostracizing, or refusing communication. The motivation behind shunning can range from personal dislike or disapproval to religious or social pressures. A shunner actively creates distance and isolation, often conveying their disapproval through a conspicuous lack of engagement. This behavior differs from simple dislike; a shunner takes proactive steps to exclude the target from their sphere of influence, signaling a firm boundary and enforcing a form of social exile. The act of shunning can have serious psychological consequences for the person being shunned, leading to feelings of loneliness, rejection, and low self-worth.

Shunner meaning with examples

• Sarah became a notorious shunner after a falling out with her best friend. She'd cross the street to avoid her former friend, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with her. The town gossips reveled in Sarah's coldness, using her actions to stoke rumors and further isolate the victim.
• In the isolated religious community, John became a shunner after leaving the faith. His family and former friends were instructed to cut off all contact with him, a punishment designed to encourage him to return and conform to the group's beliefs. The silence was deafening, and left him feeling betrayed.
• During the company's merger, Michael became a shunner of anyone from the acquired firm. He refused to attend team meetings or speak to colleagues from that department, fostering a climate of division and distrust within the workplace. His actions created a hostile environment.
• After the scandal involving the politician, his former supporters became avid shunners. They would actively ignore his presence in public, refuse to attend his rallies, and even remove his signs, hoping to distance themselves from the controversy and protect their reputations.
• The school bully was a skilled shunner. He would use peer pressure and intimidation to isolate specific students, encouraging others to ostracize them in the cafeteria and playground, making the targeted student an outsider and isolating them from any social interaction.