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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shirk
Her dissent argues that the Court is shirking its duty to clarify constitutional law in capital cases, where individuals’ lives are on the line.
—
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Swift’s strong numbers shirk one of her more polarizing release weeks in years, with The Life of a Showgirl garnering mixed critical reviews.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
By shirking the Democratic brand, Osborn has a shot at winning his race, as Cockburn points out, and may offer a model for other candidates attempting to dethrone Republicans in rural red states.
—Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Nick, desperate to return to the present, shirks the doting parents and brother who long to comfort him.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Swift’s strong numbers shirk one of her more polarizing release weeks in years, with The Life of a Showgirl garnering mixed critical reviews.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
By shirking the Democratic brand, Osborn has a shot at winning his race, as Cockburn points out, and may offer a model for other candidates attempting to dethrone Republicans in rural red states.
—Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Nick, desperate to return to the present, shirks the doting parents and brother who long to comfort him.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
-
Start with the bottom branches to avoid adding more weight to lower limbs.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Reconciliation, by contrast, allowed Republicans to pass fiscal and revenue-related farm provisions with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster and avoiding a stalemate that could have stretched on for years.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What cannot be measured is neglected.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Poor leaders tend to avoid accountability, neglect the development of their team and may create a toxic or demotivating work environment, which can ultimately hinder organizational success.—
Nancy Pulciano,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Getty Images Wait one ding-dang second, do the Philadelphia Phillies actually have the next Elly De La Cruz lurking in the minors?—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But there’s another, more recent point of comparison lurking just beneath the surface for much of the movie’s run.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Platforms evade responsibility by invoking Section 230 and the language of free speech, while in practice exercising enormous editorial power over what the public sees, believes and reacts to.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Williams has multiple past felony charges, including drug charges, evading arrest, and evidence tampering.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And don’t forget to send me your anonymous questions!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Masala chai here is served in mitti kulhad clay cups, the traditional vessels still handmade on a potter’s wheel and once forgotten in favour of glasses and paper or plastic cups.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What are your theories on how Hyacinth got a dress — and more specifically, a mask — to sneak into the masquerade ball?—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The dramatic cover continues to guide the drama of the party, from Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) choosing Benedict as her bachelor of the season to Eloise (Claudia Jessie) discovering her sister Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) had snuck in to the ball.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After a skirmish, Pretti escaped from the officer and went toward the crowd.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Event Horizon refers to the boundary of a black hole beyond which light can’t escape, according to the National Science Foundation.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Yet the fact remains that their league position has slipped from fifth to 12th since away supporters last watched their team winning in the league, 2-0 at Nottingham Forest at the end of November.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But my next words slipped soundlessly to the ground before the yellow vinyl material, like the final sprays of a park fountain at closing time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
