shrug 1 of 2

Definition of shrugnext

shrug

2 of 2

verb

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 shrug
Noun
Asked how exactly the group came together, Godrich and Harrison look at each other across a picnic table and shrug. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 The bolero, a hyper-cropped layer that’s one step away from a shrug, gets zero respect. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
Now, on the face of it, this might be the sort of situation where the casual fan might shrug and make some sort of comment about ‘tacticos’ overcomplicating the game. — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Once, when the curd did not set, Jaya Aunty did not do what Nidhi’s mother would have done—namely, shrug her shoulders and nip out to the store for a couple of squishy packets. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug
Noun
  • Two weeks later, a wave of protests had swept cities across France.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The death of actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte was met with a wave of grief from his Breaking Bad co-stars, who shared memories of Mitte following the tragedy.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • This was placed in a room where three Juszkiewicz works hinged on flourishing gladioli and calla, next to Valentino’s gowns that expressed his couture skills with sequined and embroidered dresses embellished with floral references and leaf motifs.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Tom Pelphrey’s recent Emmy win for Task only reinforces that view, as do the flourishing careers of Lewis Pullman and Imogen Poots.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • His archival sketches of solitaire diamond rings also informed the design.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The facility lacks a verifiable method that informs food employees of their responsibility to report their health status in regards to illnesses that can spread through food.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Salazar smiled and nodded, pointing at the man who was filming, an activist named Thomas Kennedy.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Nina nodded and looked across the restaurant to watch two tall women, flight attendants, striding resolutely through the concourse, their legs in perfect rhythm.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Some economists, including researchers at the Minneapolis Fed, argue the data don’t tell such a clean story.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The company agrees with skeptics like the NFL that justices must eventually opine on whether states and tribes should regulate its sports event contracts as sports bets, a Supreme Court litigator working with Kalshi told Semafor.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.
    — Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Undrafted rookie forward Ezra Ausar was also unavailable for the Heat after just signing his Exibit 10 deal with Miami on Thursday night.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Benski and Clifford are currently in dispute with Vice over payments related the sale of Pulse.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Vollmann was also pessimistic, relating that feeling comes from more than America’s current political issues, but also from the world’s environmental problems.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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