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
Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
And Americans appear to be shrugging their shoulders at the tax changes.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The only thing missing was a patented Jordan shrug.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug
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Verb
Which is a markedly different relationship from the previous arrangement of backing Israel as a proxy against Iran while shrugging and promoting Tel Aviv’s sovereign right to self-defense.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
And Americans appear to be shrugging their shoulders at the tax changes.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
As young fans gripped their face in agony, the older faces held their palms up in knowing shrugs.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The only thing missing was a patented Jordan shrug.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug
Cite this Entry
“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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