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
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
The acrimony between the two camps is seen on social media and in everyday conversations, where calls for showing compassion to the Gazans are met with accusations of naivete, hypocrisy and shirking responsibilities to fellow Jews.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett forcefully pushed back against Jackson’s suggestion the court shirked on its duty to protect the people from government overreach.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
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
The acrimony between the two camps is seen on social media and in everyday conversations, where calls for showing compassion to the Gazans are met with accusations of naivete, hypocrisy and shirking responsibilities to fellow Jews.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett forcefully pushed back against Jackson’s suggestion the court shirked on its duty to protect the people from government overreach.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Engelbert said Friday that the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association continue to meet and negotiate with the hopes of avoiding a work stoppage.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Does one just neglect the laundry, fur ball tumbleweeds from my winter-coat-shedding pup, and the cloudy glass shower door?—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
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The plan also mentions a long-term horizon for self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state – a point not raised in previous proposals, which mainly focused on ending the war in Gaza but neglected to include a longer-term pathway to statehood.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, 62 laps and humid conditions stood in his way, with Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris lurking not far behind.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Beneath such moves often lurks a selfish desire to soothe increasing anxiety, unrest, and potentially even boredom.—
Kurt Strovink,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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To try to evade the immune system, pathogens develop similarities to human cells as a form of camouflage.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Taylor has also been an advocate of his own neighborhood, Hallmark, the 10th and often forgotten community within the West End.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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The historic Gold Rush settlement of Norristown located around where Sac State’s campus is today, is almost entirely forgotten.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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New ones pop up every week, and old ones often sneak your data back in.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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That may open the door to Arseny Gritsyuk sneaking into the top nine after a strong training camp.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lammens was perhaps fortunate to escape sanction then (Stuart Atwell booked the forward for diving), but this was a valuable occasion ahead of tougher tests, beginning at Anfield.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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On autopilot The NGC Cinema-Grand Blanc Trillium, about three-quarters of a mile away on Holly Road, became a triage and reunification site for church members who escaped the attack.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Currently, Wisconsin law limits only delta-9 THC, allowing other intoxicating compounds to slip through the cracks.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Ferrari is currently battling for the second spot in the Constructors' Championship with Red Bull and Mercedes, after slipping to third.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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