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to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from
to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert; to elude; to be exempted from
彼の機転のおかげで大惨事を免れることができた。
Thanks to his quick thinking, we were able to avoid a disaster.
批判を免れるためにも透明性の確保が重要だろう。
Ensuring transparency is probably important to avoid criticism.
厳しい処分を免れることは難しいだろうと思われる。
It seems difficult to escape severe punishment.