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
-
Built in the 1830s, the 25-foot-wide home was completely reimagined by Yellowtrees Studio, resulting in a thoughtful blend of historic character and contemporary design that avoids both museum-like preservation and the formulaic feel of a luxury flip.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
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While the budget is technically balanced, maintains funding for most city services, and avoids layoffs among an already lean staff, the fiscal outlook remains fragile as local revenues slow due to cooling economic conditions and rising inflation.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
In high-stakes situations, a leader who fully relies on algorithmic advice neglects the most crucial part of their role.—
Shai Zamanian,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
What this narrative neglects are all the ways treatment might cause terrible side effects, or the long period one spends being sick, and how one’s identity may have changed in the interim.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Yet despite its reputation, this isn’t a bloodthirsty murder-bird that lurks in the rainforests waiting for its next victim.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
At the heart of our home galaxy lurks a gigantic black hole that’s more than a trillion times heavier than Earth, with all that mass stuffed into a region that is about 2,000 times wider than our planet.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
In March, the French navy seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean that Macron said belonged to Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises several hundred tankers through which Russia evades sanctions.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
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At one point, Griffin appears to lunge at Manetta, who evades him by ducking behind a column on the platform.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Fans are less tame, however, when Mamdani sneaks into the bar through a side entrance with New York City’s First Lady, Rama Duwaji.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
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This bucket crossbody bag satisfies both in a minimalist silhouette, which sneaks in luxurious details like nappa leather trims, protective metal feet, and a secure zipper top closure.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Budget retreats run roughly $1,000 to $2,000 for a week-long stay, mid-range options land between $3,000 and $6,000, and luxury escapes start around $7,000 and climb from there.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
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Until that relationship changes, no amount of vacation time, wellness apps or weekend escapes will create lasting relief.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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As measurement gets stricter and the watchers get better at catching what slips, the pool of gas that can clear the bar shrinks — and intensity figures shaped by satellite data help decide who is in the pool and who is left holding cargoes nobody in Brussels will touch.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Yoon’s wife slips a cigarette between her lips, then glances at my wife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Hurts Like Hell is Cornfield’s twangiest album yet, thanks in large part to the pedal steel that slinks through its songs, handled like quicksilver by Adam Brisbin.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Anne slinks off with her husband.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shirks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirks. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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