shoulder

verb

Definition of shouldernext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to push
to force one's way shouldered through the crowd at the bar and ordered a drink

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shoulder Almost every one hinges on high-profile cameos, which is fun at first but increasingly feels like the show distrusting its own protagonist to shoulder leading man duties. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026 The White man, his sinewy, tattooed arms already beet-red from the sun, shouldered the cross from the center beam. — John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 Our neighbors bolster their budgets with our revenue while Maryland residents shoulder the rising costs of government. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026 As for coming to America in 2026, who would shoulder the exorbitant costs and the travel challenges, let alone the risk of being pulled out of a line at the Atlanta airport, interrogated, and sent back home for joking about penalty shoot-outs? — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoulder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoulder
  1. accept
  2. push
  3. assume
  4. elbow
  5. bear
  6. squeeze
  7. undertake
Verb
  • Once considered unprofessional or unconventional in some settings, tattoos have become far more accepted across generations.
    — Rachel Brown Kirkland, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • That silence is what widens the gap, teaching an entire team what leadership is willing to accept.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of accept
Verb
  • The dramatic encounter saw both superstars push each other to their limits, culminating in a sense of finality for their long-standing rivalry.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But a cheap currency also weakens Japan's purchasing power overall, pushing up costs for the imports of oil and other essential goods.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • Communication Problems Are Shaped By Expectations Most people assume searching a computer screen means looking everywhere.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • One of those 12 teams will assume the world championship from West Suburban LL, the 2025 champs who hailed from Johnstown, Penn.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of assume
Verb
  • An All-Star with the Kansas City Royals in 2025, the 28-year-old Bubic has not pitched since mid-May – not unlike Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow – with both elbow and shoulder issues.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Skubal, who is set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason, underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in May after making seven starts for Detroit to begin the campaign.
    — Mark Harris, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of elbow
Verb
  • The children of deceased baseball legend Roberto Clemente sued Puerto Rico for issuing a commemorative license plate bearing his name and likeness.
    — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • This current turn of events was born when Clark was invited to participate in the BBC Proms classical/pops crossover program, as captured on the new album, which was initially put out only on streaming and just had a vinyl edition come out in July.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of bear
Verb
  • Yet despite their clear burnout, most can’t afford to simply quit; not with the cost of living squeezing every paycheck, AI already closing in on entry-level roles, and one of the toughest job markets in years waiting on the other side.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • As a result, in 2015-16, regulators delayed the crab season for months, ultimately squeezing the typical seven months down to roughly two.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • The Wellcome Sanger Institute is undertaking the ambitious Darwin Tree of Life project, sequencing 70,000 species across the British and Irish Isles to understand biodiversity and strengthen conservation.
    — Hayley Tabor, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Over the longer term, Fashion Britain will undertake economic as well as cultural intervention, with the BFC pledging to build lasting pathways for designers and creatives to forge sustainable careers in their home regions.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
Definition of undertake

Phrases Containing shoulder

Browse Nearby Words

should
shoulder
shoulder bag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoulder. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shoulder

Nglish: Translation of shoulder for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shoulder

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