1
as in avoided
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 neglected
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 sneaked
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shirked
Before the verdict arrived, Musk’s lawyer apologized after Musk shirked a court order requiring him to be available in case any further testimony was needed in the case.
—
Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
There is no question about his attitude or application; this is not a case of a player who has shirked responsibility or failed to work hard enough in training or in matches.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Rudnev shirked money, power, and influence, of any kind.
—William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Importers are supposed to notify Cal Fire when a shipment arrives, but a Bee investigation found that the companies linked to the Esparto property shirked that requirement for years.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett forcefully pushed back against Jackson’s suggestion the court shirked on its duty to protect the people from government overreach.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025
Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
There is no question about his attitude or application; this is not a case of a player who has shirked responsibility or failed to work hard enough in training or in matches.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Rudnev shirked money, power, and influence, of any kind.
—William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Importers are supposed to notify Cal Fire when a shipment arrives, but a Bee investigation found that the companies linked to the Esparto property shirked that requirement for years.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett forcefully pushed back against Jackson’s suggestion the court shirked on its duty to protect the people from government overreach.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirked
Verb
-
Some issues could have been avoided by carefully reading MEDVi’s site.—
Nicole Hernandez,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
The Tigers avoided disaster, at least temporarily, by stranding three and allowing just one run in the inning.—
Jace Denison,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Earlier in the investigation, witnesses told police that Noel was regularly neglected and abused, according to NBC Dallas Fort-Worth.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
-
Several go-to cleaning tools and shortcuts — steam mops on the wrong floors, pressure washers used too aggressively, magic erasers on finished surfaces, harsh deck cleaners and neglected HVAC filters — can quietly do more harm than good.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
That afternoon, Djena sneaked out of the house to meet Shams at the neighborhood Starbucks.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The Brewers tied it in the fourth when Luis Rengifo's grounder to third sneaked under Royce Lewis' glove and allowed Brice Turang to score.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
My muscles on fire with tension, sleep evaded me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Aircraft purchases were among the promises that China evaded then.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
But within the house, violence lurked like flammable gas.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The short answer is that a wide gulf exists between rumor and fact and Swalwell lurked in that gray space, living and thriving in the shadows between provability and denial.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stray bits of hair escaped my ponytail and stung my eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
The injured duckling was treated at a veterinary clinic while the other ducklings escaped the area with the mother duck.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The Olympic gymnast, 29, slipped into a striking dress with a plunging neckline for a night out with her husband, Jonathan Owens, to celebrate the wedding of their Chicago Bears friends, Jaylon Jones and wife Jaden.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
The latest poll released by the California Democratic Party showed Mahan’s support had slipped from 7% to 4% among likely Democratic voters in polling conducted earlier this month.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Abreu gunned to Connor Wong, who swung his arm high to apply the tag, and Larnach’s outstretched arm slid safely into home before Wong’s mitt made contact with his helmet.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 May 2026
-
Tatis’ throw, which was headed slightly up the line, was smartly cut off by Sung-Mun Song, who turned and fired to home, where Call slid in just before catcher Freddy Fermin’s tag.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
