SHRUGS OFF Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

shrugs off

verb

present tense third-person singular of shrug off

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

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 Turkey’s government insists its courts are independent as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrugs off European rulings, a stance that has already fueled a diplomatic clash with Western ambassadors over Kavala’s detention. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrugs off

Verb

Gen either forgets or ignores the request, so Kat has to do it herself.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Suzanne, the sulky, artistic type, scowls and pointedly ignores their noisy energy.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of ignores

Verb

Patrick Clancy forgives his ex-wife In the days after the tragedy, Patrick wrote tributes to each of his three children and decided to publicly forgive Lindsay.

— Ross Douthat, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives borrowers who make 120 monthly payments while working for a qualifying government entity or nonprofit employer, is one way borrowers can be relieved of their student loan debt.

— Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of forgives

Verb

Best Things to Do West Jefferson makes a convenient base for exploring some of the North Carolina High Country’s best fall scenery, with mountain trails, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks all within reach.

— Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
The primary bedroom overlooks the High Line, with an en-suite bathroom that has a separate soaking tub and glass shower stall.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of overlooks

Verb

The discovery explains why attempts in the past to develop hindbrain neurons from ectoderm stem cells failed – those cells had already been locked in as forebrain or midbrain neurons.

— Mike McRae September 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026
First runner-up was Italian director Paolo Strippoli’s The Spiral, in which a woman’s estranged mother shows up on her doorstep with a sinister story that explains an incident in their past.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of explains

Verb

Engineering, data, security and compliance may own different controls, but someone must own the operational result and decide whether the evidence justifies further investment.

— Taras Tymoshchuk, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
For wealth advisors and the product providers, like AQR and Quantinno, the complexity justifies the fees and benefits.

— Robert Frank, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of justifies

Verb

When the lead satellite passes over something big — for example, a glacier — the object’s gravity pulls the lead satellite faster, creating a larger, measurable gap between it and the follower satellite.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
The play of the group was highlighted on the Giants’ fourth touchdown drive where running back Devin Singletary caught three passes out of the backfield on Jaxson Dart dump-off passes over the course of four plays that generated 29 yards.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of passes over

Verb

But this surface difference papers over something more fundamentally shared.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of papers over

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“Shrugs off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrugs%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shrugs off

verb

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