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
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
Warwick shrugged and pecked at his laptop.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
During the trial, many of Cardi's impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug
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Verb
In November, when asked by The Hollywood Reporter about his job security under a takeover — at the time, Paramount was in pole position — Bloys shrugged it off.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
Warwick shrugged and pecked at his laptop.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
Why did Apple's blowout earnings get a shrug?
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
During the trial, many of Cardi's impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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