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
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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
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
-
Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Zwerner is suing Parker, who is accused of neglecting to act on concerns the student had a gun in January 2023 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Further, as dominant caregivers of the family, women often neglect reflecting on their own caregiving needs.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Not as shadows lurking in code prompt chains.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
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And among the less conversationally direct, the topic often seems to lurk on the fringes as locals in other countries try to more delicately approach politics and discern how US travelers feel about what’s going on at home.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As a result, the government is now forced to sell even more oil on the black market at a discount to evade US government sanctions, one of the economists in Caracas told CNN.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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George Washington pardoned some of those involved in the Whiskey Rebellion, while Jimmy Carter granted a blanket pardon to people who had evaded service in the Vietnam War.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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No more having to wait for the preheat temperature or worrying about forgetting to set it.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
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Rustin ran his hand over his own neck and forgot his mission.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Brissett and the Cardinals responded immediately, marching 74 yards in 11 plays before Brissett snuck one across at the goal line.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Tibetan parents, fathers mostly, also snuck into India to leave their children at the school.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When officers began to chase him, Rustrian turned off his car’s lights to try to escape police.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
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Many winter Texans flock to the city to escape colder temperatures up north, and Mexican citizens also frequent the city for shopping and business.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The program’s pulse felt faint, its identity slipping further with each loss.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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After the premiere in Hollywood, Brown slipped into a red mini corset dress.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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