SHOULDERED Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

shouldered

verb

past tense of shoulder

as in assumed

to take to or upon oneself agreed to shoulder the burden of caring for their elderly father

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pushed

to force one's way shouldered through the crowd at the bar and ordered a drink

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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 shouldered But experts say the costs of the fertilizer shortage will be largely shouldered by farmers. — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 July 2026 That number, however, does not include the costs being shouldered by local, state and federal governments, with the Athletic reporting that the host cities were each spending upwards of $100 million to accommodate the tournament. — Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 However, either of those options would leave Houston one reliever short in a bullpen that just shouldered a seismic workload during this seven-game road trip. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026 Since Tanner died, Shay has taken on the work of platforming colorectal cancer awareness, as well as shouldered the mantle of becoming a grief awareness advocate. — Shay Martin, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026 Its merger with Musk’s AI startup xAI has shouldered it with a controversial albatross that also happens to be a gigantic money hole. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026 Steyer shouldered 63% of that total sum. — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 9 June 2026 Since then, the City has shouldered increasing responsibility without corresponding County investment. — Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 This extends not only to their immediate objectives — finding safety, love and liberation — but to the more conceptual notions of their long-standing existence in Hindu societies, where they’re shouldered with a spiritual importance than can swiftly be stripped away. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shouldered

Verb

Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
The composition of the bar changed dramatically as many Loyalist lawyers departed, others were jailed and younger lawyers assumed responsibilities previously held by members of the colonial establishment.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of assumed

Verb

Scheduling conflicts when the Dodgers played the Nationals in Washington on April 3-5 pushed back the trip.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Sheriff John Ledbetter has pushed back on suggestions his office is moving too slowly, saying his department shares the family's goal and asking the public for patience, according to ABC News.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of pushed

Verb

For more than a century, many millions accepted this invitation, and helped make this country great.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Shires accepted the duel, and in late January 1860, the two men met at the Cornwall Assembly Room in Launceston, Tasmania.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Definition of accepted

Verb

Since their relationship became public in 2023, the couple has squeezed romance into tour schedules, football obligations and rare breaks from two of the most demanding careers in entertainment and sports.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Minerals are not the only sector that have been squeezed as result of the fuel crunch stemming from the Iran war; regular consumers are seeing prices at the petrol pump and supermarkets rise as well.

— Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of squeezed

Verb

Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026
But before all of that, Hoboken undertook a systematic effort to catalog its sidewalks and their condition.

— Wes Marshall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Definition of undertook

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shoulder bags

shouldered

shouldering

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“Shouldered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shouldered. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of shouldered

verb

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