The term 'steers clear of' is a phrase that means to avoid or stay away from something. The crossword solutions for this phrase are 'avoids' (6 letters), 'ESCHEWS' (7 letters), 'eludes' (6 letters), 'SHUNS' (5 letters), and 'SKIRTS' (6 letters). All of these words have similar meanings, but they each have slightly different connotations. For example, 'avoids' implies a conscious effort to stay away from something, while 'ESCHEWS' implies a more deliberate decision to stay away from something. Similarly, 'eludes' implies that something is difficult to stay away from, while 'SHUNS' implies a strong aversion to something. Lastly, 'SKIRTS' implies that someone is trying to get around something without actually engaging with it.