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
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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 sneaked
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
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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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Previous Japanese leaders have avoided discussing Taiwan in the context of a military response.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
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Margolick argues that Caesar avoided topical satire out of fear.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Last month, Berry’s family filed a lawsuit against the city of Sacramento and RT alleging wrongful death alleging the agency neglected to ensure the safety of their passengers.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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People with disabilities are neglected by underfunded and ill-equipped resources.—
Whitney Friedlander,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation, Marquette took a 3-2 lead in the sixth minute of the second overtime when Kahn somehow snuck a shot from about 40 yards under the crossbar.—
Jim Hoehn,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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Bears quarterback Caleb Williams hit tight end Colston Loveland with a pass and the tight end barely evaded two Bengals defenders, who hit each other instead of Loveland.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Bills shut down Patrick Mahomes and evaded the Chiefs for the fifth straight time in the regular season to improve to a secure 6-2 mark.—
Torrey Hart,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The terrain was steep and mountainous, the forests were thick, and threats from buffalo and leopards lurked in the wilderness.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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Was Blass’s mental block a sign of what lurked on the other side of these quotidian failures?—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Other businesses, including a nearby convention center, restaurant and Ford assembly plant, escaped the blaze.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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The mailman paused, checking to see if anyone had noticed or knew the puppy had escaped.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The conference comes at a time when the impacts of climate change have become increasingly clear — even as the issue has slipped down the immediate geopolitical agenda.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
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With three rounds remaining this season, Ferrari has slipped to fourth in the standings, 36 points behind Mercedes and 4 points behind Red Bull.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For the regions Noe oversees, the America’s slid 9 percent, while EMEA was up 4 percent.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
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However, Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold slid out to stop the shot attempt at her foot.—
Austin White,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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