1
as in avoiding
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 neglecting
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 sneaking
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 shirking
In the meantime, each of the three companies is shirking blame.
—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
5 June 2026
And Macy’s is still doing those in New York City this summer, so nobody’s shirking on the fireworks.
—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Paying influencers is legal, though state law requires both campaigns and the creators to disclose compensation, which the Becerra and Steyer campaigns have each accused the other of shirking in recent ethics complaints.
—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Hong Kong — China’s top spy agency has come out of the shadows to warn that its young people are being duped by foreign forces into shirking hard work and prioritizing their individual emotions at the expense of national development.
—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Without shirking responsibility, the 52-year-old explained that her judgment had been clouded in part by other circumstances in her life.
—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
The book opened a window on the lives of Silicon Valley’s Tech Bro culture, one that valued fierce competition, shirking of government rules and business growth above all else.
—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
The three central male characters — Mike, Lou, and Orman — all converge on the archetype of the lone wolf, a dubious label the collaboration-shirking Lou has taken on in his precinct, and one his colleagues are decidedly over.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
5 June 2026
And Macy’s is still doing those in New York City this summer, so nobody’s shirking on the fireworks.
—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Paying influencers is legal, though state law requires both campaigns and the creators to disclose compensation, which the Becerra and Steyer campaigns have each accused the other of shirking in recent ethics complaints.
—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Hong Kong — China’s top spy agency has come out of the shadows to warn that its young people are being duped by foreign forces into shirking hard work and prioritizing their individual emotions at the expense of national development.
—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Without shirking responsibility, the 52-year-old explained that her judgment had been clouded in part by other circumstances in her life.
—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
The book opened a window on the lives of Silicon Valley’s Tech Bro culture, one that valued fierce competition, shirking of government rules and business growth above all else.
—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
The three central male characters — Mike, Lou, and Orman — all converge on the archetype of the lone wolf, a dubious label the collaboration-shirking Lou has taken on in his precinct, and one his colleagues are decidedly over.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirking
Verb
-
Base editing, the process used to make the changes, only nicks one strand of DNA, avoiding the major DNA errors that made CRISPR unsafe.
-
So, avoiding extreme sleep deprivation can be helpful.
Verb
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Additionally, neglecting to remove leaves under your hydrangeas opens up the possibility of fungi and insect infestations.
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The 67-year-old owner of a Cherry Creek bridal shop was ordered last week to spend a year in federal prison for neglecting to pay employment taxes for 10 years.
Verb
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His one rule for guests is to chase whatever task is nagging at them, but to resist sneaking in actual work.
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As for oats, consider sneaking in some extra protein to round out their nutritional profile.
Verb
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According to the lawsuit, the defendants profited from unlawful short-term rentals while evading requirements in city law designed to protect short-term renters, protect the quality of life for neighborhood residents and maintain a supply of affordable housing.
-
Robinzine was charged with evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm and tempering with physical evidence.
Verb
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Finally, book eleven, Bernard Malmud’s The Fixer, was found lurking on a twelfth-grade syllabus.
-
To figure out why, an international team investigated the proteins lurking inside of the skeletal remains.
Verb
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Engineers have been trying to capture this escaping waste heat and turn it back into electricity using thermoelectric devices.
-
The current population is a result of the toads escaping or being released by importers during the 1950s and ‘60s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Verb
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There’s even a side pocket perfect for slipping a water bottle into.
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In my opinion, the perfect application is a shower, scrubbing your feet with an emery board of some kind, slipping on the booties, putting on socks, and parking yourself in front of Netflix for an hour before removing.
Verb
-
Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd said Minnesota was considering selecting Duke wing Isaiah Evans with the 28th pick in this week’s NBA Draft, prior to the Wolves sliding back five selections due to the Julius Randle trade.
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
Cite this Entry
“Shirking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirking. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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