"Bears brunt" is a phrase commonly used to describe how someone suffers the greatest impact or burden in a situation. However, there are several antonyms that could convey a different meaning. One could use "avoids hardship" to indicate that the person did not have to endure any hardship or difficulty. Similarly, "shares burden" implies that the individual was not alone in handling the situation; others helped carry the weight as well. Another antonym is "escapes consequence," indicating that the person did not face any negative repercussions from the situation. Lastly, "enjoys benefits" could be used to highlight that the individual gained advantages or rewards from the circumstance, rather than suffering any negative consequences.