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

Both of those effects, Maleki said, directly undermined US leverage in the more difficult nuclear talks and emboldened Iran to shrug off the ceasefire and keep attacking ships in the strait. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Contestants shrug off those 'Hunger Games' comments While Freedom 250 calls itself nonpartisan, its ties to Trump have thrust the organization into controversy. — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

So far, efforts by private firms to shrug off these laws aren’t working. — Philip Wang, Time, 4 Aug. 2026

After the Dream's narrow 82-81 win, Reese shrugged off the controversy when asked about the wager. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 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