1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you "forgot" your wallet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to neglect
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
a deadbeat who has been shirking his duty to his family for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner
given the multitude of auditoriums at the multiplex, it's not too difficult for underaged kids to shirk into R-rated movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shirk
The scheme worked and the worker was let go after being caught red-handed in their attempts to shirk responsibilities.
—
Matthew Impelli, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
By contrast, the drama-less previous season, All Stars 9, shirked eliminations entirely in favor of playing for charity.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
Firms are also shirking responsibility for duties and seeking to pawn tariff costs off on suppliers.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 May 2025
Just a few years earlier, in a 1993 profile in Vibe magazine, Mr. Combs had seemed to shirk all responsibility.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Matthew Impelli, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
By contrast, the drama-less previous season, All Stars 9, shirked eliminations entirely in favor of playing for charity.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
Firms are also shirking responsibility for duties and seeking to pawn tariff costs off on suppliers.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 May 2025
Just a few years earlier, in a 1993 profile in Vibe magazine, Mr. Combs had seemed to shirk all responsibility.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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Close the blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows to block the sun's rays and avoid unwanted heat.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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Independent Insight from non-family professionals to challenge assumptions and avoid groupthink.—
Paul Westall,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Absolutely no trip to Bradenton should neglect some time strolling on the Bradenton Riverwalk.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
26 July 2025
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For decades, residents in the eastern part of Dearborn have felt marginalized by City Hall, saying their neighborhoods have been neglected by officials.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
26 July 2025
Verb
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This potential baby planet lurks at the base of one of the disk's spiral arms.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 July 2025
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The threat of zebra mussels has always lurked over Colorado’s borders.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
20 July 2025
Verb
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According to one speaker, removing those guardrails and creating a dedicated non-public LLM can be an effective way to create malware and devise techniques for evading antivirus detection.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
1 Aug. 2025
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The rivers and waterways of Klong Root are seen in the penultimate scenes of Jurassic World Rebirth, as protagonists Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) and Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) attempt to evade dinosaurs by paddling downriver.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Investors forget to buy low No one is forcing anyone to purchase expensive stocks.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 2025
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And who wants an inefficient clean? While floors need cleaning frequently, don’t forget about other areas of your home that could use a good cleaning.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Long romanticized by cinema (hello, Jack Sparrow), pirate imagery is sneaking into fashion shows, reinterpreted with with luxurious materials, high shafts, relaxed structure, and lots of buckles.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
27 July 2025
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Some folks get fancy and use electric kettles for pastas, and others sneak illicit hot plates into their dorms.—
Katherine Polcari,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Verb
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If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Aug. 2025
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The presumption that refugees move over borders for just a few weeks to escape some crisis then quickly return home is pollyannaish.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With skies that never darken and days that never end, life on board slips into a new rhythm.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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In his haste to get to grandma's front door, Wally's hat slipped over his eyes, completely covering his face, leading Julia to try and fix it before her mom opened the door.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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