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
Both regulators and Attorney General William Tong have accused the company of shirking its responsibility to clean up the property, hampering redevelopment opportunities.
—
John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
After living through that hell, the young Sammie shirks his father's wishes and becomes a blues player of great renown.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for shirk
John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
After living through that hell, the young Sammie shirks his father's wishes and becomes a blues player of great renown.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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Snow cowered in the back, avoiding eye contact when Kiersten tried reaching her hand out.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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While most infections occur during recreational freshwater activities, people trying to clean their sinuses are advised to use distilled, sterilized or boiled — and then cooled — water to avoid infection or illness.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
Verb
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It has been neglected, with much deferred maintenance.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2025
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Both have been neglected for years: Bridges are crumbling, school buildings disintegrating, and trains — once a symbol of German efficiency — are now so unreliable that some lines are banned from neighboring Switzerland’s railways.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Supermassive black holes lurk all throughout the known universe, but catching one in the act of devouring its cosmic dinner doesn't happen all that often.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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In this regard, another early-20th-century influence besides Bulgakov lurks in The Stolen Heart: Mykola Khvylovy.—
Uilleam Blacker,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Massey has evaded hundreds of authorities in a multistate manhunt.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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The last few months have borne witness to AI systems learning to mislead, cheat, and try to evade shutdown—even resorting to blackmail.—
Harry Booth,
Time,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Demings will likely never forget that night, nor the weeks and months that followed.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
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It’s designed to combat re-arrest and re-incarceration after imprisonment—known as recidivism, create jobs and build dignity for those the system tries to forget.—
Kizzy Cox,
Essence,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Despite her largely younger fan base – the demographic that loves streaming sites – Cyrus launches her title on the Official Albums Streaming chart at No. 39, just barely sneaking into the top 40 region.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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On assignment for People magazine in 2005, Weiss attempts to sneak onto Brad Pitt’s beachfront compound in Santa Barbara, hoping to grab some tasty morsels about the megastar’s new relationship with Jolie.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Verb
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The main thing to avoid is a wide-mouthed glass, which lets aromas escape too quickly.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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On Monday, Tomaszewski learned one of his neighbors found a white Nike shoe in between the home where the shooting occurred and the yard people escaped through.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Based on my firm's analysis, in April 2025, traditional indices moved in different directions: The Dow Jones declined by 3.28% and the S&P 500 slipped 1.10%, while the Nasdaq gained 0.90%.—
Arthur Mouratov,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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The defense did slip slightly last year — from first to 13th in adjusted efficiency — and that’s in part because Iowa State wasn’t as physical and deep up front.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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