1
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you "forgot" your wallet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to neglect
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
a deadbeat who has been shirking his duty to his family for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner
given the multitude of auditoriums at the multiplex, it's not too difficult for underaged kids to shirk into R-rated movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples 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 shirk
If college presidents get a pass, then why shouldn’t all institutional leaders in democratic society shirk their duties?
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 19 Oct. 2024
To our national shame, Labour, like the Tories before it, looks set to shirk the biggest fiscal challenge facing Britain today: fixing social care, which has been in a mess for decades.
—The Week, theweek, 22 Sep. 2024
In each of these activities, the individual’s incentive is to shirk.
—John C. Goodman, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024
Zoom out: Despite calls from members of their party to stop circulating the rumors and consistent reports that the claims were false, the GOP ticket doubled down and has since repeatedly shirked blame for the threats to Springfield that have ensued.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shirk 
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 19 Oct. 2024
To our national shame, Labour, like the Tories before it, looks set to shirk the biggest fiscal challenge facing Britain today: fixing social care, which has been in a mess for decades.
—The Week, theweek, 22 Sep. 2024
In each of these activities, the individual’s incentive is to shirk.
—John C. Goodman, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024
Zoom out: Despite calls from members of their party to stop circulating the rumors and consistent reports that the claims were false, the GOP ticket doubled down and has since repeatedly shirked blame for the threats to Springfield that have ensued.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
-
These things make Istanbul a great place to get high-quality hair transplants at low prices, but patients need to be careful to avoid secret risks.Ethan Stone, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Per prosecutors, Diddy used three-way calls and other inmates’ phone codes to avoid scrutiny.Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The pair had lived a high-octane life on the road, hopping from city to city, partying, neglecting themselves but putting on bigger and better shows.Thomas Smith, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Pretty much anytime Miguel feels hurt or neglected by Johnny, then the two come back together, it’s guaranteed to work on me.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
When set up side by side without a perfectionist producer lurking in the studio, however, both aesthetics relax, the lyrics freed of their intensity when placed in fresh, buoy-ant atmospheres.Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Roman Emperor Titus is thought to have orchestrated these mock sea battles, but certainly not with any sea creatures lurking beneath the surface.Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Hezbollah fighters have been using pagers as a low-tech means of communication in an attempt to evade Israeli location-tracking, two sources familiar with the group’s operations told Reuters this year.Reuters, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
-
El Monte police said that charges of kidnapping and felony evading would be submitted to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Who could forget that just two years ago, President Biden chose to address the nation in Pennsylvania about the threat Trump and his supporters posed to the nation.The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
-
Now, our son is making overtures on behalf of his wife to just forgive and forget.R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
While his family makes dinner and festive snacks, the young boy sneaks food and brings a dish to his neighbor's doorstep.Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 13 Nov. 2024
-
Devin Williams received back-to-back sentences of 25 years to life in prison for the fatal shootings of Maria and Benison Tran, who were shot at near point-blank range after Williams snuck into their Dublin home and confronted them in a fit of jealous rage.Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Firefighters rescued one person who was trapped and assisted others in escaping the building.Doha Madani, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
-
His intent was to escape his hectic Hollywood lifestyle and show the world the path to sustainability.Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Nations slip their bonds If Musk is right that Trump will deliver a new order, and Dugin is right that the globalists have lost, then dusk now falls on that American Century.Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
-
Pulling on his heartstrings works, and Darnell backs down but not without a last word: If Jabari’s grades start slipping, the fight is back on.Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near shirk
Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share