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
Haugen appeared on 60 Minutes and testified before Congress, telling lawmakers that Facebook had shirked its responsibility to its most vulnerable users, largely because profit is king.
—
Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025
Some states chose to shirk the federal title of Washington's birthday, opting instead for Presidents' (or President's, or Presidents) Day monikers.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025
Some have suggested that despite his questionable skills while streaming, Musk may actually be the one playing for hours on end to level up his character, shirking other responsibilities.
—Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025
To have done otherwise on the facts developed during our work would have been to shirk my duties as a prosecutor and a public servant.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025
Some states chose to shirk the federal title of Washington's birthday, opting instead for Presidents' (or President's, or Presidents) Day monikers.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025
Some have suggested that despite his questionable skills while streaming, Musk may actually be the one playing for hours on end to level up his character, shirking other responsibilities.
—Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025
To have done otherwise on the facts developed during our work would have been to shirk my duties as a prosecutor and a public servant.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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Soundproofing your apartment and crate-training your pup will help your dog bark less and avoid complaints from angry neighbors.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The quick turnaround with results can also help avoid patients being administered incorrect antibiotics.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, neglecting compliance can have disastrous consequences.—
Rasmus Holst,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Multi-club ownership throws up potential for conflicts of interest and the prospect of sheer neglect towards the smaller clubs in a portfolio.—
The Athletic FC Podcast,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Redondo Beach — The Trump administration’s targeting of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will jeopardize efforts to save sea lions, dolphins, sea birds and other wildlife stricken by poisons lurking offshore, say marine scientists, public health officials and animal rescuers.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Overtourism is to blame That year, a railway company also launched a probe against four popular YouTubers over their stunt to evade fares on public transport, according to local media.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
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The group has claimed dozens of strikes against Israel throughout the war in Gaza, some of which have managed to evade the country's state-of-the-art air defense systems.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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When transferring goods into freezer-safe bags, don’t forget to date and label the bags.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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And during the heart of the pandemic, who could forget her radiant presence in the 2020 Verzuz battle with Erykah Badu?—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Investigators learned the girl had snuck out of her house at about 1:30 a.m. to meet up with someone, and that person likely killed her and left her body until it was found about eight hours later, Nienhuis said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
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That Ukraine’s fiber-optic FPVs are now sneaking up on Russians in their sleeping bags is a good indication that the drones are becoming extremely capable.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Condo prices are plummeting across Florida as homeowners flood the market with new inventory in a last-ditch attempt to escape rising fees on their units, according to new Redfin data.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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Three adults — the boys’ father, grandmother and grandmother’s boyfriend — were able to escape the fire, which started in the basement and caused about $350,000 in damage to the home and its contents, according to the Carpentersville Fire Department.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After slipping into Taurus, the sun will clash with Mars on April 20, followed by powerhouse Pluto on April 21.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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But are we really supposed to believe that wife-of-the-year Karen Wilson would let such an important date slip her mind?—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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