shirk

verb

ˈshərk 

shirked; shirking; shirks

intransitive verb

1

: to go stealthily : sneak

2

: to evade the performance of an obligation

transitive verb

: avoid, evade

shirk one's duty

shirker noun

Synonyms of shirk

• avoid
• evade
• escape

Examples of shirk in a Sentence

He's too conscientious to shirk his duty.

He never shirked from doing his duty.

They did their duty without shirking or complaining.

Recent Examples on the Web

The book opened a window on the lives of Silicon Valley’s Tech Bro culture, one that valued fierce competition, shirking of government rules and business growth above all else. —Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

But lawmakers often shirk that duty, enabling the executive branch to amass more power to send the military into combat without congressional approval. —Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026

California has the second-lowest homeownership rate in the country at 56%, and Haney said corporations shouldn’t be shirking real estate taxes in the midst of a housing crisis. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026

Rudnev shirked money, power, and influence, of any kind. —William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for shirk

• berk
• birk
• cirque
• clerk
• dirk
• erk
• irk
• jerk
• kirk
• lurk
• merc
• merch

Kids Definition

shirk

verb

ˈshərk 

: to get out of doing especially what one ought to do

: avoid sense 3, evade

shirked their duty

shirker noun