If you want to avoid someone on WhatsApp without blocking them, there are a few options you can consider:
Mute Chats: You can mute individual chats to stop receiving notifications from that particular person or group. Muting a chat will allow you to stay in the chat but prevent constant notifications from disturbing you. The messages will still be there, but you won't be alerted when new messages arrive. To mute a chat, open the chat, tap on the contact/group name at the top, and select "Mute notifications."
Hide Last Seen and Read Receipts: By disabling "Last Seen" and "Read Receipts" in your privacy settings, you can prevent the person from knowing when you were last online or whether you've read their messages. Keep in mind that if you disable these features, you won't be able to see theirs either.
Disable Read Receipts for Specific Contacts: You can selectively turn off read receipts for specific contacts without affecting others. To do this, go to WhatsApp settings > Account > Privacy > Read Receipts, and then manually enable or disable it for individual contacts.
Archive Chats: Archiving a chat will hide it from your main chat list without deleting it. This way, you can access it later if needed, but it won't be visible in your main chat list. To archive a chat, long-press the chat, and then tap the archive icon (a box with an arrow pointing downwards).
Custom Privacy Settings: WhatsApp offers some customization for who can see your profile photo, status, and last seen. You can set these options to "My Contacts," "Nobody," or "Everyone." By limiting access to certain information, you can maintain some privacy from specific individuals.
It's essential to remember that these methods can help you manage your interactions with a person, but they won't completely prevent them from messaging you or seeing your online status. If you want a more comprehensive way to avoid someone, blocking is the most effective method, but it might also be more apparent to the person that you've taken such action. Choose the option that best suits your needs and comfort level.