shrugged; shrugging
: to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty
: to lift or contract (the shoulders) especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty
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
Zak Keefer, New York Times, 30 May 2025
But McDonald shrugs that off when asked about it, instead focusing the spotlight on the production's four other nominations.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 May 2025
The New York Times, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
These killings doubled as cover for war crimes and a brutal shrug: what else to do with those cast as human refuse?
—James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrug
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
Whenever a network booking agent asked for someone from the magazine to fill a seat and dish on the day’s sports news, most writers shrugged.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 30 May 2025
But McDonald shrugs that off when asked about it, instead focusing the spotlight on the production's four other nominations.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
Read the full review. More of a shrug than a gut punch.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
These killings doubled as cover for war crimes and a brutal shrug: what else to do with those cast as human refuse?
—James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrug
Cite this Entry
“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share