1
as in avoided
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 neglected
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 snuck
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 shirked
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
Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirked
Verb
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Mamdani has taken a more aggressive approach than many traditional Democrats—who have historically championed incremental reform and avoided expansive tax policies targeting high-earners.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed support for a ban but has avoided weighing in on specific bills.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Most companies neglected formal lobbying until faced with scrutiny, potential regulation or in response to crises.—
Paulo Carvão,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Like Jay Kelly, Sentimental Value is about a filmmaker who neglected his family in order to focus on his career — a character played by the veteran Swedish thespian Stellan Skarsgård, who will probably duke it out with Sandler for the best supporting actor Oscar.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On first-and-15 in the same quarter, Milroe evaded pressure, kept his eyes downfield and threw an accurate ball on the move to White near the sideline for 25 yards.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Aug. 2025
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The versatile slugger has been a perfect fit for the Yankees, but other teams could try to pry the former NL MVP away from New York with the long-term deal that has evaded him to this point.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Supporting star Jason Momoa walked the red carpet in a striking pink suit prior to the screening but snuck out with his entourage before the film played.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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Near Broadbelt’s home, a very small dog snuck out from behind a fence and barked at reporters on the sidewalk.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two 12-year-old girls escaped the fire.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Parasites lurked inside the fish and turned out to be a new species.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Over time, as refrigerators became commonplace, butter dishes slipped into the background.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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By day’s end, the team has caught seven Asian swamp eels and documented the presence of many more that slipped through their nets.—
Wesley Bruer,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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