shrugged; shrugging
: to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty
: to lift or contract (the shoulders) especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty
Examples of shrug in a Sentence
Verb
I asked if he wanted to go out to dinner, and he just shrugged.
He just shrugged his shoulders.
Recent Examples on the Web
Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Today, Schon can only shrug his shoulders when the impasse with Perry comes up.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
When the Bruins obtained Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers last summer, it was met with not much more of a shrug from the fandom.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug
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Verb
The immediate reaction is to shrug.
—Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Today, Schon can only shrug his shoulders when the impasse with Perry comes up.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
The only thing missing was a patented Jordan shrug.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
When the Bruins obtained Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers last summer, it was met with not much more of a shrug from the fandom.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug
Cite this Entry
“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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