shirked

verb

past tense of shirk
1
as in avoided
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in neglected
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 sneaked
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

Example 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 shirked Rudnev shirked money, power, and influence, of any kind. — William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 There is no question about his attitude or application; this is not a case of a player who has shirked responsibility or failed to work hard enough in training or in matches. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Before the verdict arrived, Musk’s lawyer apologized after Musk shirked a court order requiring him to be available in case any further testimony was needed in the case. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026 Importers are supposed to notify Cal Fire when a shipment arrives, but a Bee investigation found that the companies linked to the Esparto property shirked that requirement for years. — Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026 In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett forcefully pushed back against Jackson’s suggestion the court shirked on its duty to protect the people from government overreach. — Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirked
  1. avoided
  2. neglected
  3. sneaked
  4. evaded
  5. lurked
  6. escaped
  7. slipped
  8. slid
Verb
  • Indeed, the folks in Akron, Amherst and Monroe, among other locales, have long awaited the winds of change, which have avoided blowing out the stale air caused by chronic losing.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo avoided a suspension for the start of this year’s tournament after a foul during a World Cup qualifier match.
    — Yash Roy, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of avoided
Verb
  • In my view, an especially helpful approach to answering such questions is to revisit the towering but neglected influence of the French philosopher Montesquieu on the founding of this country.
    — Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • When movement is restricted, when stress accumulates, when sleep is neglected, when nourishment is poor, and when our nervous system is overwhelmed, imbalance begins to appear.
    — Sherry McAllister, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of neglected
Verb
  • When grounders sneaked through the infield, his body language was uneventful.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Some stuff released a bit earlier this week and snuck past me.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of sneaked
Verb
  • On the phone, my friend Monika is telling me about a lost dog in her Salt Lake City neighborhood, a blue heeler who’s been seen limping and has evaded capture.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
  • Russia intercepts most Ukrainian long-range drones but some have evaded Russian air defenses.
    — Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 27 June 2026
Definition of evaded
Verb
  • But a trap lurked within that framework.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026
  • What once lurked in the online shadows has become a major talking point and cause for global concern among parents and politicians alike.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 June 2026
Definition of lurked
Verb
  • William Carney, a man who escaped slavery to become a Union soldier in the Civil War and who was awarded the Medal of Honor for protecting the American flag from touching the ground during battle.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Born enslaved in Maryland, Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) escaped to the North and emerged as the nation’s leading abolitionist and major literary political figure of his time.
    — Melia Patria, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of escaped
Verb
  • On Tuesday, French Open champion Alexander Zverev slipped worryingly on the baseline but was able to get straight back up.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 3 July 2026
  • The employment-to-population ratio slipped to 59% in June, the lowest since October 2021.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of slipped
Verb
  • Ryan Mendes passed a ball through an Argentine defender’s legs on the right side of the Argentinian box to Deroy Duarte, who calmly took a touch and then slammed a shot through another defender’s legs and then slid it past Martínez into the net.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Tesla — Shares of Elon Musk's electric vehicle company slid 8% even after Tesla reported second-quarter deliveries that surpassed Wall Street's expectations.
    — Davis Giangiulio,Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of slid

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Cite this Entry

“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shirked for Spanish Speakers

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