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

The Kremlin seemed to shrug off both Syrskyi's firing and Drapatyi's appointment, though Russian state media reported that authorities issued an arrest warrant for Drapatyi just hours after his appointment. — Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 22 July 2026

But these predictions were often shrugged off as hypothetical or alarmist and failed to stir public or government action. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 22 July 2026

Antinous attempts to shrug off the token’s return, but seemingly recognizes it, and realizes in full that Odysseus has returned for revenge when the man strings his bow. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

PayPal has been working with investment banks on takeover and activist defense for the last few months and had already shrugged off initial overtures from Stripe, Semafor reported earlier this year. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 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