1
as in avoids
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 neglects
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 lurks
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 shirks
Nick, desperate to return to the present, shirks the doting parents and brother who long to comfort him.
—
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirks
Verb
-
For gardeners in warmer areas, fall planting avoids the stress of a hot summer without adequate root systems.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Axiom strictly avoids heavy chemical use as the necessary means to its end goal.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
What a leader neglects in the dark will inevitably be revealed in the light, often at staggering costs.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This narrative neglects the systemic nature of discrimination, Black lived experiences, and ongoing activism.—
Time,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But beneath this viral joke among African Americans lurks a hidden history of slavery, voodoo, and rebellion.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, a manipulative judge, Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock), lurks around the fringes, hoping to seduce or even blackmail the electrically attractive Hedda.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In it, his character evades deadly hunters by jumping out a hotel window and then rappelling down the side of a building while wearing barely a stitch.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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The rest of the song fails to answer these questions and evades reference to anything else internet-y, focusing instead on litigating receipts and affairs.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Clara, grieving in her own way, sneaks out, gets drunk and high and sees her boyfriend without her mom’s permission.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Determined, Khaled sneaks into Israel and embarks on a journey to the sea.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fabric is light enough to layer on travel days yet cozy enough for chilly winter escapes, and the vibrant color options, like royal blue and mandarin orange, add a cheerful twist to the traditional knit.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Nov. 2025
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What was once a place for summer escapes is quickly turning into a year-round destination for wealthy international buyers, many of whom are trading in London, Stockholm, or Frankfurt for the island’s slower pace of life.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The video opens with her washing dishes when a golden ring slips down the drain.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Advertisement The next morning, Peter’s mask slips.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Anne slinks off with her husband.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Route 128 slinks through the folds of Anderson Valley like a slow river, past vineyards clinging to hillsides and orchards heavy with apple blossoms come spring.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirks. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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