as in wave
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Recent Examples of shrug
Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
There’s plenty of evidence from the past year to support that theory, from the ouster of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, to attacks on Russian shadow fleet vessels by Ukrainian special forces, to the brief Israel-Iran conflict last summer, all of which produced a collective shrug from oil traders.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Melvin’s childhood friends and business associates look away, scratch their heads, and shrug their shoulders when asked the obvious question.
—Aliya S. King, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrug
Noun
Still, in conversations with strategists steeped in the state’s politics, almost everyone offers the same shrug as to whether Texas is really in contention this year.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
There’s plenty of evidence from the past year to support that theory, from the ouster of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, to attacks on Russian shadow fleet vessels by Ukrainian special forces, to the brief Israel-Iran conflict last summer, all of which produced a collective shrug from oil traders.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
In the years since 2004’s Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Penn’s carved out a niche embodying big-talking, attention-grabbing rascals who say inappropriate things, then shrug their way through the consequences.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Melvin’s childhood friends and business associates look away, scratch their heads, and shrug their shoulders when asked the obvious question.
—Aliya S. King, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug
Noun
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For a wave of young jewelry brands that built their businesses on the promise of high-quality pieces without the high jewelry price tag, that’s a problem.—
Andrea Bossi,
Vogue,
18 Mar. 2026
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The settings feature 12 different temperatures backed by infared technology to fit any styling mood (the lower temperatures are great for creating waves without completely frying off your hair).—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Eagles are flourishing under coach Cory Skinner.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Clearly flourishing despite the many geopolitical hurdles over the last year, the China International Fashion Fair (CHIC) showed off the strength of the industry in China last week.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The worker then pulled the emergency brake to stop the train before getting off to inform the control tower.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Koch added that Joa plans to use artificial intelligence to create content and better inform teams and leagues about user behavior.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Among the movie’s nine Academy Award nominations were nods for best picture, best actor for Chalamet, best director for Safdie and best screenplay for Safdie and Bronstein.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
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But before long, the conversation moved in a different direction as Kent nodded to conspiracy theories that pro-Israel forces were behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ivan Montijo, a b-boy breakdancer who teaches breakdancing to students in Stockton schools, told CBS Sacramento that this mural is a grassroots movement.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Southern Israel's main hospital received at least 175 wounded from Arad and Dimona, deputy director Roy Kessous told The Associated Press.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump has similarly fumed at Thune, going so far as to refuse to sign bills until the SAVE America Act reaches his desk.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
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The 34-year-old Panarin subsequently signed a two-year, $22 million extension with Los Angeles.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Many of the deaths were believed to be directly hypothermia-related.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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The ministry gave no further details such as whether the two cases were related.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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