1
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
2
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
Johnson shrugged off any concerns about imposing such new restrictions less than a week before the primary.
—
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
The varied genus offers tall and creeping varieties, all with succulent leaves that shrug off insects.
—Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
Investors who shrugged off last month’s artificial intelligence (AI) scare in the insurance sector might want to brace themselves for a reality check.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
But the defender shrugged off Magassa before scoring a towering header.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug off
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
The varied genus offers tall and creeping varieties, all with succulent leaves that shrug off insects.
—Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
Investors who shrugged off last month’s artificial intelligence (AI) scare in the insurance sector might want to brace themselves for a reality check.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
But the defender shrugged off Magassa before scoring a towering header.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrug off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug off
Verb
-
Red, white and blue and Venezuela’s yellow, blue and red filled the stadium -- as did the political overtones the WBC could not ignore.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 17,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But when platitudes aren’t backed by action, the disparity between branding and behavior becomes impossible to ignore.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Israel and Hezbollah did agree to a ceasefire in November 2024, which called for Israel to stop its military campaign and to remove their ground forces in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah to willingly move all of its personnel and military equipment north of the Litani River.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The point is not to turn the home into a fortress but to remove single points of failure.—
Neal K. Shah,
Boston Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tucked away off Lagos’ Admiralty Way main road, you’d be forgiven for mistaking its polite green exterior for something residential upon viewing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But Schott—who visited Morris in prison in February and said that God has forgiven him—tends to lean into controversy.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So certainly a huge moment; Can’t overlook it.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The Irish actress received Best Actress nominations for Brooklyn (2015), Lady Bird (2017), and Little Women (2019), though she was overlooked for the win each time in favor of, respectively, Brie Larson, Frances McDormand, and Renée Zellweger.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Radcliffe wasn’t so easily put off.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Americans are also making other sacrifices, such as delaying a job change, putting off buying a new home or postponing growing their family.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The micropipette allowed the researchers to measure electrical activity in the neuron, Gray explained.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The doctor explained how Moïse had to be listed under several aliases while being treated.—
Tania Francois,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s when Manu Garcia found Joveljic with a perfect pass over the top of the Galaxy defense.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Whether it’s being passed over for a promotion, receiving harsh feedback, or losing a contract to a competitor, setbacks happen.—
Nir Eyal,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While discussing current events, and specifically the military conflict with Iran, Reid said that Iranians were justified in disliking the United States due to the 1953 coup in which Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown, an effort that Great Britain and the United States aided.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
-
All this fuels engagement algorithms that the platforms use to justify their advertising rates and their stock prices.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrug off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug%20off. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
