shrugged; shrugging
: to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty
: to lift or contract (the shoulders) especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty
Examples of shrug in a Sentence
Verb
I asked if he wanted to go out to dinner, and he just shrugged.
He just shrugged his shoulders.
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Williams, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
If South Miami-Dade commuters shrug at Metro Express, county leaders will be left having to explain why Washington and Tallahassee should back other transit projects when riders failed to embrace this one.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Shane Brennan, a sports reporter for The Irish Independent, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, shrugs.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrug
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Verb
Eaton, a 40-year-old Oklahoma State fan, shrugged his shoulders and went for it.
—Justin Williams, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
If South Miami-Dade commuters shrug at Metro Express, county leaders will be left having to explain why Washington and Tallahassee should back other transit projects when riders failed to embrace this one.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the study, subjects performed shoulder shrugs and rotations and upper back stretches.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Shane Brennan, a sports reporter for The Irish Independent, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, shrugs.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrug
Cite this Entry
“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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