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

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• discount
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• paper over
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• whitewash
• wink (at)

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

No blank checks County Commissioner Steve Geller shrugged off the differences between the two reports. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2024

One of four four-star recruits in the Class of 2025, Washington shrugged off any concerns about outside expectations. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2024

Reynolds shrugged off Tankian’s words when asked specifically about them in the Rolling Stone interview. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2024

The younger Bolloré shrugged off a report in Le Monde that his father had a direct hand in the splintering of the mainstream conservative party over whether to join forces with Le Pen. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Europe, 3 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shrug off

verb

1

: to brush aside as not important

2

: to take off (a garment) by wriggling out