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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shirk
The Republican senator agrees that NATO nations must do more for their own defense, but says U.S. cannot shirk its duty to defend its allies.
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John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
None of this is to say that universities should shirk from making tough decisions.
—Dhruvak Mirani, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
Torres has disappeared from the public eye — missing a City Council meeting and shirking his other responsibilities on local and regional government committees — leaving city officials and residents concerned over District 3’s lack of representation.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
The ex-American may want to shirk her tax responsibility, but the IRS has other plans.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shirk 
John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
None of this is to say that universities should shirk from making tough decisions.
—Dhruvak Mirani, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
Torres has disappeared from the public eye — missing a City Council meeting and shirking his other responsibilities on local and regional government committees — leaving city officials and residents concerned over District 3’s lack of representation.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
The ex-American may want to shirk her tax responsibility, but the IRS has other plans.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirk
Verb
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Officials urge residents to avoid coastal areas, stay informed about conditions and prioritize safety.Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
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To do this, avoid cutting all the way through when trimming off the base of each rib.Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Another common mistake is neglecting the explainer video production quality.James Bryant, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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The county will not neglect the Civic Center, Chief Executive Fesia Davenport said.Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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An old enemy of the Doctor’s is lurking in the wings and all of human history hangs in the balance.Ellise Shafer, Variety, 25 Dec. 2024
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And with the Eagles and Vikings lurking, tied atop the standings at 12-2, the Lions were destined to lose their grip on the NFC North and No. 1 seed, until their lack of depth finally shows and they’re inevitably bounced in the playoffs.Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At that February hearing, Judge Bowen dismissed an evading police charge, finding that the pursuing Richmond officer had failed to activate his siren during the brief chase.Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
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The post-election honeymoon period is officially over. Democrats and Republicans were back to trading barbs this week as both parties tried to evade blame for a near government shut down.Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Gone but not forgotten, Ingenuity completed the first flight of a powered aircraft on a planet other than Earth, and inspired more plans for helicopter drones to be sent to Mars.Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
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While learning how to speak with confidence, don’t forget to listen actively and pay attention to your client’s needs and preferences.Sho Dewan, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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If the season ended today, the Washington Commanders would sneak into the playoffs as the seventh seed, one game ahead of the Seahawks.Sam Joseph, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
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That might be a welcome reprieve for those of us who are usually glum during the holidays (just me?), but the blues can sneak up on anyone.Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Over time, for the partner on the receiving end, this dynamic can exacerbate resentment, low self-esteem and a desire to escape.Mark Travers, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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Powered by a game-high 35 points from Cole Anthony and a plethora of reserve players stepping up, the Magic escaped the jaws of defeat to win 121-114 against the Heat (13-13), who were without Jimmy Butler (illness).Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Just slip this over the interior door’s peephole and rest assured knowing that no one can use a device to see in.Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024
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Tokyo's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3 percent to close at 38,701.90 on Friday following the release of November inflation data.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Shirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirk. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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