1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you "forgot" your wallet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to neglect
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
a deadbeat who has been shirking his duty to his family for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner
given the multitude of auditoriums at the multiplex, it's not too difficult for underaged kids to shirk into R-rated movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shirk
Though redeveloping Villa Park’s North Stand was shelved in late 2023, Villa have not shirked infrastructure investment under Sawiris and Edens.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
For those with aspirations to shirk the trend, there are real advantages to keeping things in the family—most of them stemming from a commitment to longevity that precipitates deeper investments in technology and people.
—Ethan Karp, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The ultimate responsibility lies with his enablers: Republican senators who shirked their duty and voted to confirm Cabinet nominees who are outrageously unqualified.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
MacKinnon is one player who hasn’t shirked his enthusiasm for this event.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
For those with aspirations to shirk the trend, there are real advantages to keeping things in the family—most of them stemming from a commitment to longevity that precipitates deeper investments in technology and people.
—Ethan Karp, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The ultimate responsibility lies with his enablers: Republican senators who shirked their duty and voted to confirm Cabinet nominees who are outrageously unqualified.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
MacKinnon is one player who hasn’t shirked his enthusiasm for this event.
—Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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Make sure to maintain an upright torso and avoid leaning forward or backward.—
Laura Schober,
Health,
13 May 2025
-
The key question is whether the data behind digital twins is sound enough to avoid the pitfalls that result in data decay over time (i.e., entropy).—
Mika Newton,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
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After all, abortions after 12 weeks are provided in clinics, so focusing only on pills and telemedicine neglects patients who are further into their pregnancies or who require a larger range of pain-management options.—
Amy Hagstrom Miller,
Time,
1 May 2025
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California’s utilities commission is neglecting its primary responsibility.—
Loretta Lynch,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Mars will appear in the constellation Cancer in the western sky, while Jupiter will lurk close to the horizon, setting just a few hours after the sun.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
13 May 2025
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Probably not as many as are lurking on your medicine cabinet shelves.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Engineered to evade interception by U.S. defenses such as THAAD, the missile presents a direct challenge to Western military dominance and poses a potential threat to regional allies like Israel.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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Vita's Ukrainian mother (my grandmother) survived as an orphan for two years under German occupation and barely evaded being carted off to Germany to work as a forced laborer.—
Sasha Vasilyuk,
Time,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Don’t forget to take advantage of the signature St. Regis butler service, which will promptly fulfill requests for packing needs, garment pressing, restaurant reservations and a cup of steaming chamomile tea to unwind after a long flight.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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And don’t forget to sign the honor code when you’re done.—
Patricia Schultheis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Another man was banned from Disney World earlier this week after allegedly attempting to sneak a wallet full of cocaine into the Magic Kingdom, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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The charges, filed March 18 in New York federal court, accuse O’Reilly of working with others to sneak people into the United States.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Found also faced a new story paradigm in Season 2 as one of the key elements of its premise changed with Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) escaping from Gabi’s (Hampton) basement in the Season 1 finale.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
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Wainwright, who had escaped from a North Carolina prison days before killing 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on June 10 at Florida State Prison.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2025
Verb
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The sandals also boast adjustable straps, a breathable faux leather upper, comfy real suede insoles, and an EVA outsole that offers plenty of traction and stability to prevent slipping.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
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The future Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret famously slipped into the crowd to celebrate on VE Day, short for Victory in Europe Day.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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