shrug off

verb

shrugged off; shrugging off; shrugs off

transitive verb

1

: to shake off

shrugging off sleep

2

: to brush aside : minimize

shrugs off the problem

3

: to remove (a garment) by wriggling out

Synonyms of shrug off

• ignore
• forgive
• overlook
• explain
• pass over
• justify

Examples of shrug off in a Sentence

an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem

she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly

Recent Examples on the Web

Take our survey Shrugging shocks Global markets continue to shrug off the geopolitical shocks, but HSBC sees some developments that could end that dynamic. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Latter-day stars politely shrug off the comparisons; fans are chastened by having witnessed how fame — and a craving for control — undid their favorite performer. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Iraola shrugged off concerns about the balance of the attack given that Barcola, Munoz, Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha all prefer to play off the left flank. — James Pearce, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Underpinning the luxury market are affluent home shoppers who can afford to shrug off rising mortgage rates and often pay all cash for a home or come up with a large down payment by raising funds through sales of stocks or other investments. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shrug off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

shrug off

verb

1

: to brush aside as not important

2

: to take off (a garment) by wriggling out