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
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Recent Examples of shirk
Rudnev shirked money, power, and influence, of any kind.
—
William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Importers are supposed to notify Cal Fire when a shipment arrives, but a Bee investigation found that the companies linked to the Esparto property shirked that requirement for years.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
After Villa went 2-0 up, they were forced to withstand a spirited Tottenham fightback with the hosts scoring through Wilson Odobert in the 54th minute, and Rogers — scorer of the second in first-half stoppage time — did not shirk his defensive responsibility.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shirk
William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Importers are supposed to notify Cal Fire when a shipment arrives, but a Bee investigation found that the companies linked to the Esparto property shirked that requirement for years.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
After Villa went 2-0 up, they were forced to withstand a spirited Tottenham fightback with the hosts scoring through Wilson Odobert in the 54th minute, and Rogers — scorer of the second in first-half stoppage time — did not shirk his defensive responsibility.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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The Yankees will look to avoid its first series sweep Sunday with Cam Schlittler on the mound against Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The troop carrier planes became bogged down in the soil and had to be destroyed by the US to avoid them falling into enemy hands, while new planes were flown in.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kanaiyah Ward was neglected A report by the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) revealed that Ward was neglected by the caretaker who was supposed to supervise her with hourly checks.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The United States had neglected to tell it that the marines were coming.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The handheld camera prefers to lurk on the wooden side of the easel.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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But for Russell, these examples show the danger lurking on the path of now agitating inside Mercedes, to somehow put Antonelli off his new stride.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Thousands of trucking companies racking up thousands of safety violations – poor maintenance, excessive driving hours, drug and alcohol use – all while evading federal enforcement.—
Ashley Velie,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The scooter rider managed to evade police by making a U-turn, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Don’t forget to take a photo on the famous Queen Emma Bridge, a long pontoon bridge that crosses the natural harbor, between bites of sweets made by native Curaçaoans.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
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No one who lived through the COVID pandemic will ever forget its immense impact on our lives.—
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Several candidates, including Marx, pledged to free the former Mesa County clerk, who was convicted for orchestrating a plot to sneak a third party into a secure area to examine voting equipment after the 2020 election.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
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But that was the only time the Badgers would sneak one past Hicks.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rather than escape, the sheepherder accepts his death.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Police said another man and a woman escaped uninjured.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Spot gold, which is currently trading at around $4,838 per ounce, has fallen about 10% from its late-January peak, slipping into correction territory even as geopolitical risks intensify.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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The passing comment Fred Couples said to his caddie on the 12th hole of the opening round at the Masters was worth another listen when Rory McIlroy slipped both arms into the green jacket for the second year in a row.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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