Formal:
* Elude: To escape from, especially by cunning or skill.
* Evade: To escape from or avoid by cleverness or skill.
* Circumvent: To go around or avoid.
* Sidestep: To avoid dealing with or confronting something.
* Bypass: To go around or avoid something.
Informal:
* Dodge: To avoid something quickly and cleverly.
* Skip: To avoid something or someone, often playfully.
* Duck: To move your head or body down quickly to avoid something.
* Shirk: To avoid doing something that you should do.
* Bypass: To go around or avoid something.
Negative connotations:
* Evade: To avoid something in a sneaky or dishonest way.
* Shirk: To avoid something because you are lazy or unwilling to do it.
* Dodge: To avoid something in a cowardly way.
The best word to use will depend on the context of the sentence.