shrugs off

verb

present tense third-person singular of shrug off
1
as in ignores
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 removes
to rid oneself of (a garment) she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shrugs off Oleander is very heat and drought tolerant and shrugs off poor soil. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026 Once again, Rodrigo shrugs off concern. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Ryan shrugs off the daily noise altogether. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026 The team shrugs off criticism that the end result was overbudget and overdue. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 June 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 Singh shrugs off the need for external validation. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 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 His Bear shrugs off advice from friends and co-workers Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sara (Megan Lawless) who notice that Nikki seems to get more unhinged by the minute. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrugs off
  1. ignores
  2. removes
  3. forgives
  4. overlooks
  5. explains
  6. justifies
  7. passes over
  8. papers over
Verb
  • This ignores the obvious fact that the Constitution prohibits Congress from giving official status to any religion or from preventing someone from practicing the religion of their choice.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • But blaming seed oils for the declining health of Americans ignores the broader context of America's dietary shift, according to Mozaffarian.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of ignores
Verb
  • Laparoscopic excision surgery, in which a specialist carefully removes endometriosis lesions, is widely considered the gold-standard surgical treatment and can improve both pain and fertility outcomes.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Faster clinical brain imaging The new design removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in conventional computer architecture, where memory and processors are physically separated.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of removes
Verb
  • But Hannah, who sees his true good nature, forgives him.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 22 May 2026
  • While The Pitt forgives and empathizes with Robby’s flaws, Robby is not called on to extend that empathy to others.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of forgives
Verb
  • Fans might be quick to immediately pencil in Rodriguez as the starter, yet this totally overlooks Dodson’s competitiveness.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Custom designed in Italy — to accommodate bigger tables and cupholders — and installed in 2014, the wheel features 16 gondolas and overlooks the Mississippi River.
    — Aki Nace, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of overlooks
Verb
  • Sprouse explains that Wade is a British television presenter who hosts shows about aquatic animals with names like Dark Waters, Mighty Rivers, and River Monsters.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026
  • Creatine is a natural compound that your body produces and uses for energy, Basbaum explains.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 July 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • Hennessey Special Vehicle’s newest creation only further justifies the shop’s name.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
  • But Toy Story 5 more than justifies its existence in the age of tech.
    — Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Definition of justifies
Verb
  • When the mower passes over the lawn, the bent blades are not cut while others are trimmed.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026
  • The first phase of the program will distribute a maximum of 20,000 single-day passes over the course of the year.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Definition of passes over
Verb
  • With ballots set to be printed this week, the issue was appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court on an expedited basis, with both sides filing court papers over the weekend.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • In this case, the vote also papers over Democrats’ internal divisions, given that the caucus is divided between hawkish Democrats sympathetic to attacking Iran and those who reject the attack outright.
    — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of papers over

Browse Nearby Words

shrugs
shrugs off
shrunk
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Cite this Entry

“Shrugs off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrugs%20off. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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