shrug 1 of 2

noun

Definition of shrugnext
as in wave

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shrug

2 of 2

verb

as in to flourish

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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
The bolero, a hyper-cropped layer that’s one step away from a shrug, gets zero respect. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026 After so many games this season, some version of that adage, a verbal shrug and a nod to how unpredictable the sport is, has been uttered in the Padres clubhouse. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026
Verb
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 The problem was that voters seemed to shrug at the revelation, perhaps even then distrustful of politicians in general. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug
  1. wave
  2. flourish
  3. inform
  4. nod
  5. tell
  6. sign
  7. relate
Noun
  • Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through Thursday night, with heavy rainfall in waves that could lead to flooding along area rivers, creeks and streams, the National Weather Service said.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The science is real but narrower than the marketing suggests, and the gap between the two is about to shape the next wave of skincare launches.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of wave
Verb
  • But the fecundity of the land is no match for the Trasks’ failure to flourish.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv have flourished in the five years since the United Arab Emirates and Israel normalized relations in 2020, analysts say.
    — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of flourish
Verb
  • Upon stepping at the brand’s showroom here, one could be met with an explosion of tangerine hues informing unfussy tops, tunics and cotton dresses cut in essential shapes and infused with vitaminic energy.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The app can also track who goes through your door and when, sending notifications to keep you informed.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of inform
Verb
  • The watch, designed in partnership with Prancing Horse, also nods to supercars.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Their album titles have always been in Spanish and their signature style continuously nods to the culture.
    — Cata Balzano, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nod
Verb
  • Serena tells him his former boss Elliott Wyatt recommended him highly, which is strange given his former reticence.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • After the election, legislating is an obvious place to go, given the public and many lawmakers in both parties want to see something done, the tech industry source told Semafor.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • Amodei and the leaders of Google, Meta, OpenAI, X and Nvidia signed the agreement.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The probe, which comes one day after top tech leaders signed a self-regulatory AI accord at the White House, could compel tech CEOs to testify before Congress.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sign
Verb
  • Lisa Janssen, a Brookfield resident, tried to get the state to set aside two liens against her son and deceased husband, both of whom had been to prison for a variety of larceny, theft and drug-related crimes.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, our plants might be dealing with heat and drought-related leaf scorch.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of relate

Browse Nearby Words

shrouds
shrug
shrugged
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Cite this Entry

“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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