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

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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
  • Joe, for his part, ignores Nathan’s call before the guests arrive.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • With Sport on, the system mostly ignores the pneumatics altogether, prioritizing speed and power.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignores
Verb
  • Juicing cherries and plums removes most or all of their fiber, making whole fruits a better option for supporting cardiovascular health.
    — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And choosing a washer with a higher spin speed (up to about 1,000 RPM) removes more water before drying, which shortens air-dry time significantly.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 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
  • But that view overlooks the force driving the rally and holding it together.
    — Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Intense Israeli airstrikes early Saturday also hit the strategic Ali Taher hill, which overlooks parts of the southern city of Nabatiyeh and main roads leading to it, NNA reported.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of overlooks
Verb
  • Odds of getting shares were worse than one in five thousand, which explains pretty loudly why the stock popped so much on launch.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Here, The Athletic explains the latest situation in terms of both outgoings and incomings at St James’ Park.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • Trust drives value, value justifies investment and investment flows toward the function that protects it.
    — Paul M. Wilson, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Usually a hypothesis justifies the data collected, rather than the reverse.
    — Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of justifies
Verb
  • Regardless of whether Lala's eye passes over land, its impacts could be significant, AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The former Washington Commanders starter is competing for the backup job behind Dak Prescott in what head coach Brian Schottenheimer declared an open competition, though Howell has thrown just 14 passes over the past two seasons.
    — Nick Harris. Story produced with AI assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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