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

Investors, however, appeared to shrug off that concern -- at least with regard to some tech giants. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Haaland shrugged off a question about her various political identities in a recent interview with The Associated Press. — Terry Tang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

In Crystal Palace’s recent 2-2 away draw with Besiktas in the Europa League, the Frenchman intelligently read a backpass from defender Tiago Djalo before shrugging off a challenge and rifling the ball into the top corner. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026

That shrugging off of the war was a common attitude among visitors to Boulevard City, organizers say. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 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