shrugs off

verb

present tense third-person singular of shrug off
1
as in ignores
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 removes
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 shrugs off The team shrugs off criticism that the end result was overbudget and overdue. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 June 2026 Once again, Rodrigo shrugs off concern. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 His Bear shrugs off advice from friends and co-workers Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) and Sara (Megan Lawless) who notice that Nikki seems to get more unhinged by the minute. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 Singh shrugs off the need for external validation. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026 Rough blazing star shrugs off humidity but skip planting in spots where the soil stays soggy in the winter. — Erica Browne Grivas, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026 Even now, Dickinson shrugs off people who complain that recent Maiden albums like The Book of Souls and Senjutsu lean too progressive. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026 Oleander is very heat and drought tolerant and shrugs off poor soil. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026 Ryan shrugs off the daily noise altogether. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrugs off
  1. ignores
  2. removes
  3. forgives
  4. overlooks
  5. explains
  6. justifies
  7. passes over
  8. papers over
Verb
  • So while the film, on one hand, ignores the political perspective of its victims — including Khalra — its wide-spanning rebuttal to government overreach becomes more palatable to mass audiences in the process.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
  • By and large, the General Assembly mocks his policy proposals and ignores his leadership.
    — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026
Definition of ignores
Verb
  • That ranking uses a similar methodology to the Billboard Global 200, but purposefully removes consumption from American listeners.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • This move removes Iran’s primary justification for disrupting shipping in the SOH and for attacking its neighbors.
    — Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of removes
Verb
  • But Hannah, who sees his true good nature, forgives him.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 22 May 2026
  • While The Pitt forgives and empathizes with Robby’s flaws, Robby is not called on to extend that empathy to others.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of forgives
Verb
  • So is the community’s playground that has a soft rubber surface and overlooks the lake.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
  • But that overlooks the far larger number of proposals that never reach financial close because critical complementary investments never materialize.
    — Bright Simons, semafor.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of overlooks
Verb
  • There are a lot of caveats that education reporter Martha Dalton explains neatly for us.
    — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
  • All of that perhaps explains why Rodgers, who grew up in an evangelical Christian environment, may have rejected his family for a time.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • This can only reliably be achieved through a disciplined approach to governance that enables organizations not only to think big about AI, but to operationalize it in a way that justifies their efforts and investments.
    — Chris Dimitriadis, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • All that cash keeps many of FIFA’s member federations running, and Infantino justifies his nonprofit’s relentless commercial pursuits on the basis that the proceeds go toward growing the game globally.
    — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026
Definition of justifies
Verb
  • Since then, however, Howell has only thrown 14 passes over the past two seasons.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • The autonomous vehicle then passes over the colorful flames and sparks.
    — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of passes over
Verb
  • With ballots set to be printed this week, the issue was appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court on an expedited basis, with both sides filing court papers over the weekend.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • In this case, the vote also papers over Democrats’ internal divisions, given that the caucus is divided between hawkish Democrats sympathetic to attacking Iran and those who reject the attack outright.
    — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of papers over

Browse Nearby Words

shrugs
shrugs off
shrunk
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Cite this Entry

“Shrugs off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrugs%20off. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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