shrugs 1 of 2

noun

plural of shrug
as in waves

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shrugs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shrug
as in informs

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrugs
  1. waves
  2. informs
  3. gesticulations
  4. flourishes
  5. gestures
  6. nods
  7. tells
  8. relates
Noun
  • The Iranian diaspora spans multiple generations and waves of exile, from those who left after the 1979 revolution to more recent arrivals who fled crackdowns and protest movements.
    — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Made for pretty much every texture, the airy foam gives fine-to-medium hair body without weighing it down, while helping define and smooth thicker waves and curls without sacrificing movement.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of waves
Verb
  • Creator instinct informs what gets made, how it is presented and how quickly the team responds.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • When the Pogues return to Kildare from Azerbaijan, Rose informs them that Groff stole the Royal Merchant gold from her after trying to kill her.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of informs
Noun
  • The performing community challenged that notion, tracing the scat-singing and gesticulations to earlier artists including Black jazz performer Baby Esther Jones and cabaret entertainer Florence Mills.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
  • But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of gesticulations
Verb
  • Fraud rarely flourishes because criminals are exceptionally clever.
    — Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Normally these spots are produced by a fungus that flourishes during hot, damp and humid weather.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of flourishes
Noun
  • In kitchens, courtyards, bedrooms and on the streets, women shared jokes, secrets, gestures of care and moments of freedom.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The moment taps a broader wartime tradition in Ukraine, where heroic dogs, cats and rescuers become national emblems — and American gestures of solidarity carry growing political weight.
    — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of gestures
Verb
  • Bluey delivers a message to kids about continuing to play with your imagination, and at the same time nods to the parents in the right way.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Parton’s nominations were the film’s only nods at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of nods
Verb
  • Despite Bret’s passionate insistence that his classmate is a serial killer, Croft tells him Robert is a good kid from a good family and sends him back to class.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The limited series tells the story of two sisters who go on the run after an act of vengeance goes wrong.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of tells
Verb
  • Each and every item relates in some way to the novel’s storyline, yet miraculously, many of the objects were sourced before the book was even written.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Holland’s Spider-Man relates more personally to everyone — friends and foes — than any other superhero; his scenes with the Punisher (Jon Bernthal), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Det.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of relates
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.

Browse Nearby Words

shrug off
shrugs
shrugs off
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Cite this Entry

“Shrugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrugs. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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