shrug off

verb

shrugged off; shrugging off; shrugs off

transitive verb

1

: to shake off

shrugging off sleep

2

: to brush aside : minimize

shrugs off the problem

3

: to remove (a garment) by wriggling out

Synonyms

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• discount
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• paper over
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• whitewash
• wink (at)

Examples of shrug off in a Sentence

an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem

she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly

Recent Examples on the Web

By admitting that stress and uncertainty are not experiences to feel ashamed of, or something that can be shrugged off or ignored, leaders can foster a greater sense of team solidarity and trust. —Adrian Gostick, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Still, some on Yelp shrugged off the Trump campaign event. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024

But the company shrugged off the idea of drawing customers like other regular retail companies would: with more discounts. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 18 Oct. 2024

Shah shrugged off that line of criticism in an interview. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shrug off

verb

1

: to brush aside as not important

2

: to take off (a garment) by wriggling out