1
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to rid oneself of (a garment)
she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrug off
Josh Hart shrugged off the question — because no one cares about first-round playoff series victories.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Howard, who has been a police officer for 24 years, elected and reelected from a blue district, shrugged off the video.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Rough blazing star shrugs off humidity but skip planting in spots where the soil stays soggy in the winter.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026
Even now, Dickinson shrugs off people who complain that recent Maiden albums like The Book of Souls and Senjutsu lean too progressive.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug off
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Howard, who has been a police officer for 24 years, elected and reelected from a blue district, shrugged off the video.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Rough blazing star shrugs off humidity but skip planting in spots where the soil stays soggy in the winter.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026
Even now, Dickinson shrugs off people who complain that recent Maiden albums like The Book of Souls and Senjutsu lean too progressive.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug off
Verb
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Washington continued to ignore them in the recent campaign.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Even the wokest of the wokes are ignoring poor Megan.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The attorney general will pick who disburses money from the fund and the president can remove any of those people, according to the DOJ.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
-
This was the era of decolonization, when nation-states delivered one-third of humanity from the humiliation of imperial rule, restoring political autonomy and dignity where they had long been removed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In the 95th minute of what was effectively a dead rubber for Leeds, their striker might be forgiven for switching off or going through the motions.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Pool service can be a bit slow during busy times, but once your perfectly prepared daiquiri arrives, all is forgiven.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
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For a family or small-group getaway, the airy luxury villa boasts two king-size bedrooms, a sofa bed in the living room, and an outdoor deck with a jacuzzi overlooking the lagoon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
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This naïve view tended to overlook the searing violence of the ‘Cold’ War, and the ever-increasing inequality between nations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The inconvenience of that military presence has brought certain compensations from the government, such as a strikingly modern, geometric contemporary art museum (Nagi MOCA) that draws visitors not put off by the arduous journey required to get there.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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Commissioner Jessica Vasquez requested the AI proposal be deferred, likely putting off consideration for at least one month.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Vrabel, meanwhile, stumbled though multiple press conferences while trying to both avoid and explain the issue without ever really providing details.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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This may explain why credit markets barely budged after last week’s spending figures.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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After being passed over twice in the draft before the Lightning selected him 108th overall, Rautiainen won Liiga’s Golden Helmet award, going to the league’s MVP and voted on by his peers.—
Eduardo Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
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Six months later, they're passed over.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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In recent years, even some advocates of free trade have come around to the idea that certain tariffs can be justified on strategic and national-security grounds, especially when working with an avowedly mercantilist country like China.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Those benefits justified a rule holding employers responsible when hybrid workers cause others injury while moving between their home and office.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrug off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug%20off. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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