Synonyms of shoulder

shoulder

verb

1

as in to accept

to take to or upon oneself

agreed to shoulder the burden of caring for their elderly father

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accept
• assume
• bear
• undertake
• embrace
• take over
• back
• adopt
• take up
• stand by
• support
• advocate
• endorse
• consent
• acquiesce
• uphold
• accede
• agree
• assent
• espouse
• champion
• reassume
• reaccept

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take back
• withdraw
• refuse
• disclaim
• repudiate
• turn down
• renounce
• retract
• disavow
• avoid
• reject
• disown
• decline
• refrain (from)
• spurn
• bypass
• abjure
• abstain (from)
• recant
• forbear
• relinquish
• detour
• give up
• surrender
• unsay
• abandon
• forsake
• back down
• back off
• backtrack
• abnegate

2

as in to push

to force one's way

shouldered through the crowd at the bar and ordered a drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

• push
• elbow
• squeeze
• muscle
• bull
• bore
• shove
• press
• crash
• jam
• thrust
• jostle
• bulldoze
• ram

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shoulder

Many are shouldering economic hardship, exposure to adversity and discrimination, family responsibilities, uncertainty about the future and social pressures. — Crystal Cederna, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Though both Justin and Quincy continue to support their father, Christian has taken it upon himself to shoulder the effort to preserve Combs’ legacy. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Lilly died on January 25, leaving her father to grieve her loss while shouldering a mission to spread awareness about the cancer that took his daughter’s life. — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Musically schooled in Vienna, Higginson hired the players, chose the conductors, and shouldered the deficits. — Joseph Horowitz, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing shoulder

• chip on one's shoulder
• cold shoulder

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes