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
Pike can’t shirk his promise to train cadets at the Academy.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Chancellor Jeremy Haefner told The Denver Post that inclusivity remains a core value at DU and vowed the federal government will not strongarm the campus into shirking from that.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 7 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
In new photos from a Beckham family yacht trip off the coast of Italy, Victoria seemed to shirk traditional bathing suit cover ups in favor of wearing sheer, lacy lingerie over her black bikini during a family yacht trip off the coast Italy.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Chancellor Jeremy Haefner told The Denver Post that inclusivity remains a core value at DU and vowed the federal government will not strongarm the campus into shirking from that.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 7 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
In new photos from a Beckham family yacht trip off the coast of Italy, Victoria seemed to shirk traditional bathing suit cover ups in favor of wearing sheer, lacy lingerie over her black bikini during a family yacht trip off the coast Italy.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
-
Of course, anyone with a tree-nut allergy should avoid almond butter altogether.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Tillery also advises her clients to skip overpacking and go with carry-on luggage to avoid unnecessary baggage fees or inconveniences if there are flight changes.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, the department's union is joining calls for more funding, saying the city has neglected for years to fund repairs and maintenace.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The Wisconsin native was charged with repairing bridges within the department, campus and community that Addazio had neglected or damaged.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While Norris was able to catch and pass Leclerc for second place twice, Piastri only faded from the lead battle, his attention instead shifting to the Mercedes of George Russell lurking behind in his mirrors.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Behind all of the concern about the mental health of Ukrainian children lurks a bigger question regarding the generations too young to have taken part in the unifying 2014 revolt against Russia.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Simmons added that the play would’ve worked in the game except that Stone had to evade a defender, and that caused Jenkins to briefly stop.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
-
First Ascents in South Korea Chouinard reportedly drank an entire bottle of soy sauce in an effort to spike his blood pressure and evade a draft for the Korean War.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The earth-shattering events of the first trilogy have been all but forgotten, and the Magisterium looms as large as ever.—
Lev Grossman,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The night before an away game in Knoxville, Russ and Danny must sneak out of the team hotel and go on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Whatever your topping of choice, anyone can relate to this pup sneaking a slice.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Epstein story is all about people who are sufficiently rich or entitled escaping the full consequences of their actions, something that is still happening here.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Seven years after disappearing from his California home in 1972, 14-year-old Steven Stayner escaped his kidnapper, Kenneth Parnell, and returned to his family in 1980.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Women’s Power Stride Tab Socks 3-pack Designed with training in mind, this three-pack of no-show socks boasts an interior grip that keeps them from slipping during use.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Messi picked up the ball from his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul in midfield and burst toward the backpedaling Nashville back line before slipping the ball outside to Luis Suárez.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share