1
as in ignoring
to dismiss as of little importance
an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removing
to rid oneself of (a garment)
she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrugging off
Senate Republicans plan to vote on a government funding package as soon as Thursday, shrugging off Democrats’ vows to filibuster the legislation unless DHS funding is removed and amended after two fatal Minnesota shootings.
—
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Stocks closed higher on Monday, shrugging off a dip earlier in the day after reports of the DOJ probe into Powell.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2026
Stock market investors for now are shrugging off the Justice Department’s investigation into Powell.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Both gave way to Phoenix’s limitless fourth-quarter responses, shrugging off Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren’s late shot-making, as well as the Thunder’s late turn to small ball.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Warriors took down the Nuggets, 137-131, on Thursday, clawing their way back from a 14-point crater, surviving a 50-point explosion from San Jose’s Aaron Gordon, and somehow shrugging off yet another triple-double from Jokic.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, WBD is shrugging off the downturn, up a hair to near $18, continuing to be buoyed by takeover talk.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
With many shrugging off such transcriptionists inside the office, etiquette around recording outside the office is fraying.
—Iain Martin, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Indonesia still ranks among the more stable emerging markets, Howe said, shrugging off impact from the demonstrations as a near-term setback.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Stocks closed higher on Monday, shrugging off a dip earlier in the day after reports of the DOJ probe into Powell.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2026
Stock market investors for now are shrugging off the Justice Department’s investigation into Powell.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Both gave way to Phoenix’s limitless fourth-quarter responses, shrugging off Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren’s late shot-making, as well as the Thunder’s late turn to small ball.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Warriors took down the Nuggets, 137-131, on Thursday, clawing their way back from a 14-point crater, surviving a 50-point explosion from San Jose’s Aaron Gordon, and somehow shrugging off yet another triple-double from Jokic.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, WBD is shrugging off the downturn, up a hair to near $18, continuing to be buoyed by takeover talk.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
With many shrugging off such transcriptionists inside the office, etiquette around recording outside the office is fraying.
—Iain Martin, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Indonesia still ranks among the more stable emerging markets, Howe said, shrugging off impact from the demonstrations as a near-term setback.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrugging off
Verb
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Things that used to feel so urgent and non-negotiable (being disciplined, heeding early alarms, ignoring my body’s cues) now have a patina over them.—
Dimity McDowell,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
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This skeptical energy plays under the surface of the novel (Hjorth’s funniest) as Johanna begins to surveil her mother, ignoring her sister’s perfectly reasonable requests to leave her in peace.—
Elaine Blair,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Particularly important are removing the regulations inflating refining costs in the state and overly restricting gas supply options.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
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Prepare the planting bed by removing existing weeds, rocks, and other debris and raking the surface smooth.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On the same floor, Tea Lounge Kafu is a serene tearoom overlooking the bamboo atrium, with seasonally changing scroll art in its tokonoma alcove.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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The full-floor primary suite has boutique-quality closets and a white marble spa bath, plus an office with quality custom millwork overlooking Mohawk Street.—
Lauryn Azu,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not everyone who heard Woodruff speak was as forgiving as Walker.—
Jennifer Gonnerman,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
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Few plants are as forgiving as pothos.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, Ukraine’s birth rate is collapsing, with increasing number of people struggling with fertility or putting off the decision to have children.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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Among life’s great procrastinations, putting off making a will seems to top insignificant things like delaying cleaning the house or starting a homework assignment.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The software simulates wind passing over the avatar, computational fluid dynamics calculate how much resistance there is — and how tweaking a skater’s form alters that.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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Alarmists will often focus on the negative while passing over potential positive outcomes.—
Jeff Mayhugh,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Oden went from starter to never taking off his sweats while freshman Tae Simmons was elevated to the backup power forward.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
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Kalkbrenner ceded the starting center role to Diabate while recovering from an elbow injury spanning parts of December and January and that’s also when the Hornets’ game-opening unit began taking off and flourishing.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After serving a fragrant tempura of shiitake, Murai unexpectedly pulled out a bottle of Domaine Takahiko Pinot Noir, explaining apologetically that the winemaker permits him to pair it only with the umami-rich mushroom course.—
Alex Halberstadt,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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Persons-Mulicka responded by explaining what her bill would do, but not why.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrugging off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrugging%20off. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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