SHRUG OFF Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

shrug off

verb

Definition of shrug off

as in to ignore

to dismiss as of little importance an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to remove

to rid oneself of (a garment) she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 off Latter-day stars politely shrug off the comparisons; fans are chastened by having witnessed how fame — and a craving for control — undid their favorite performer. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 Underpinning the luxury market are affluent home shoppers who can afford to shrug off rising mortgage rates and often pay all cash for a home or come up with a large down payment by raising funds through sales of stocks or other investments. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 Washington’s progressive leaders have shrugged off high-profile exits, pointing to wealth that continues to accumulate in the region. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2026 Being attacked with tactical nuclear weapons is not an option that an adversary will just shrug off without retaliation, and likely with escalation. — William Hartung, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrug off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug off

Verb

South Korea shifted to a softer tone under current liberal President Lee Jae Myung, but North Korea has so far ignored Lee's calls to resume diplomacy.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Dwindling visitor traffic and exhibitor numbers — and rising prices per square foot — can no longer be ignored at ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories trade shows around the world.

— Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of ignore

Verb

The reactor would produce substantial heat that engineers must remove from the vehicle.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
For instance, Microsoft has committed not to use sensitive data that many companies leverage, such as information about gender, race, age, ZIP code that can be used to identify a person even if their name is removed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

But although the young crew have strong voices and deliver pretty harmonies, the pop performances sound so processed that you could be forgiven for asking if anyone is doing their own singing.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
The scourge of Steve Spurrier Spurrier took too many verbal jabs to list here and took special glee in beating the Dawgs, never forgiving them for beating his Florida Gators in his 1966 senior season, ruining their SEC championship hopes.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of forgive

Verb

School has been back in session for weeks and the summer temps are steadily dropping, which means that there’s no reason to put off a September cleanout any longer.

— Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026
Analysts say the naira currency’s depreciation over the last three years, due to Nigeria’s economic policy revamp, highlights the macroeconomic risks that may put off investors in the economy, including in healthcare.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of put off

Verb

The woman who had compiled the Handy Hints book helpfully explained these technical details to Flynn, whispering in his ear like someone translating a foreign language.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Instead of explaining why something happened after the fact, the organization helps the customer stay ahead of it.

— Suresh Rajapakse, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

Devin Lloyd, the team’s expensive inside linebacker, had a game-high 13 tackles but also got beat on a 22-yard TD pass over his head.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2026
In the early stage of the trip, the twin-engine jets headed for Alaska and passed over Greenland, where an Airbus A400M support plane capable of landing on ice was stationed.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of pass over

Verb

The Italian Interior Ministry used that same threat to justify extending the border checks Tuesday.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
First-act setups extend through the majority of the 108-minute runtime, constituting a plotless meander without the aesthetic allure to justify such a languid journey.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of justify

Browse Nearby Words

shrugging off

shrug off

shrugs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shrug off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug%20off. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shrug off

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

volition

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes