1
as in moves
to change the place or position of
he shifted the vase closer to the wall so that it wouldn't get knocked over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in twitches
to change one's position
she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changes
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
she watched the aurora in fascination as its colors shifted from green to blue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in swaps
to give up (something) and take something else in return
my brother and I shifted seats just before takeoff so that he could sit by the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in copes
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
desperate shifts to stave off financial disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in movements
the act or an instance of changing position
made a small shift to the left to make more room on the bench
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shifts
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Gruev goes inside to Ampadu, who quickly shifts it to James Justin as Habib Diarra harries him.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The kind of truth that shifts the room without explaining the entire plot.
—Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The left side of the infield will consist of senior third baseman Bode Rohrbach and senior Trevor Wallace, who shifts from second base.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
But running through even two or three of them shifts you from passive label reader to active evaluator.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
The law shifts the financial burden of paying brokers from renters to landlords.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
However, for Rose Reese’s return also shifts attention back toward Rose’s postseason outlook.
—D’joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
When a word feels too abstract, Jacobs shifts the phrasing, lowers the tempo or elongates a syllable until Siena grasps it.
—Reylee Billingsley, AZCentral.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
El Niño is characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean, and a related series of shifts in winds and precipitation patterns in the atmosphere.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The 10-episode first season shifts among the points of view of Agnes, Aunt Lydia and Daisy.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
The film shifts the focus from traditional narratives of policy and victimhood to the everyday experiences of individuals adapting to a life of constant threat, raising critical questions about whether these safety rituals signify true preparedness or a surrender to violence.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
When that wall shifts, so does the path to the White House.
—Rachelle Graham, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
While the closing of the Strait of Hormuz has not yet caused dramatic shifts in Brazil’s gasoline market, the country is struggling with rising diesel prices.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
House Bill 239 shifts that balance away from local communities and toward state mandates.
—Stephanie Flasch, Baltimore Sun, 31 Mar. 2026
But step inside and the mood shifts entirely.
—Vicki Power, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
The trip feels oddly smooth, as the robotaxi cleanly shifts lanes and slows down to avoid hitting other vehicles and bicycles on the road.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Gruev goes inside to Ampadu, who quickly shifts it to James Justin as Habib Diarra harries him.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The kind of truth that shifts the room without explaining the entire plot.
—Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The left side of the infield will consist of senior third baseman Bode Rohrbach and senior Trevor Wallace, who shifts from second base.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
But running through even two or three of them shifts you from passive label reader to active evaluator.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
The law shifts the financial burden of paying brokers from renters to landlords.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
However, for Rose Reese’s return also shifts attention back toward Rose’s postseason outlook.
—D’joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
When a word feels too abstract, Jacobs shifts the phrasing, lowers the tempo or elongates a syllable until Siena grasps it.
—Reylee Billingsley, AZCentral.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
It’s survived trends, closures, expansions, contractions and Charlotte’s constant identity shifts.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
El Niño is characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean, and a related series of shifts in winds and precipitation patterns in the atmosphere.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The 10-episode first season shifts among the points of view of Agnes, Aunt Lydia and Daisy.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
The film shifts the focus from traditional narratives of policy and victimhood to the everyday experiences of individuals adapting to a life of constant threat, raising critical questions about whether these safety rituals signify true preparedness or a surrender to violence.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
When that wall shifts, so does the path to the White House.
—Rachelle Graham, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
While the closing of the Strait of Hormuz has not yet caused dramatic shifts in Brazil’s gasoline market, the country is struggling with rising diesel prices.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
House Bill 239 shifts that balance away from local communities and toward state mandates.
—Stephanie Flasch, Baltimore Sun, 31 Mar. 2026
But step inside and the mood shifts entirely.
—Vicki Power, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifts
Verb
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Luna and other House conservatives have vowed to hold up legislation from passing the House until the Senate moves the SAVE America Act.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And in a city that changes as quickly as Charlotte, dependability starts to feel like heritage.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The agency would need to publish a final decision before anything officially changes.—
Amanda Seitz,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Boston’s second-most common lineup since Tatum’s return, which swaps Pritchard in for Hauser alongside the other four starters, has outscored opponents by 56 points over 48 minutes.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
While strawberry shortcakes are usually made with biscuits, this recipe swaps them for tender little cakes baked in muffin tins.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Our awkward hero copes with grief through humor while navigating relationships with her type-A sister (Sian Clifford), her nasty stepmother (Olivia Colman), and, in season 2, a hot priest (Andrew Scott).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
-
New secrets about the city’s origins arise, and the social structure struggles as the bunker copes with fallout from last season.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
California is not unique, and housing is not the only means by which the older generations have effectively pulled up the ladder behind them.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Which is fortunate for Musselman, given there will be less means to lure players from the portal.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Malaysian visitor Russel Lupang was amazed by their appearances and movements.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
But this time, the reaction has been notably restrained, barring oil movements.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That relocates the blame in the mother.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Jude relocates this tale of troubled conscience to present-day Cluj-Napoca, in Transylvania, and subjects it to a corrosively cynical twist.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifts. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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