shrug

1 of 2

verb

ˈshrəg How to pronounce shrug (audio)
especially Southern ˈsrəg
shrugged; shrugging
Synonyms of shrugnext

intransitive verb

: to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty

transitive verb

: to lift or contract (the shoulders) especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty

shrug

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of shrugging
2
: a woman's small waist-length or shorter jacket

Examples of shrug in a Sentence

Verb I asked if he wanted to go out to dinner, and he just shrugged. He just shrugged his shoulders.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Wall Street shrugs at the loss of another major studio as nostalgia for a bygone era. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2026 Schiliro looked around for help, but his colleagues just shrugged. Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
So when Martins was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame at the Kia Center earlier this week, the reaction from many fans was probably a shrug. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026 The brand carries elevated basics like lightweight cardigans , sweater tanks , shrugs , and the cutest wide-leg jeans , for affordable prices. Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrug

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English schruggen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrug was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

shrug

verb
ˈshrəg
shrugged; shrugging
: to draw or hunch up the shoulders usually to express doubt, uncertainty, or lack of interest
shrug noun

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