The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word NULLIFYING
N
U
L
L
I
F
Y
I
N
G
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Avoiding" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case avoiding = nullifying.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does NULLIFYING mean?
NULLIFYING verb- To make legally invalid.
- To prevent from happening.
- To make of no use or value; to cancel out.
- The act or process by which something is nullified.