shoulder

verb

Definition of shouldernext
1
as in to accept
to take to or upon oneself agreed to shoulder the burden of caring for their elderly father

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to push
to force one's way shouldered through the crowd at the bar and ordered a drink

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 shoulder Four years on from the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has proved remarkably resilient, shouldering sanctions, rocketing inflation, and depleted fiscal reserves. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 June 2026 That number, however, does not include the costs being shouldered by local, state and federal governments, with the Athletic reporting that the host cities were each spending upwards of $100 million to accommodate the tournament. — Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said states are shouldering costs once covered by the federal government and often learn about cyber incidents through news reporting rather than federal briefings. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 June 2026 In the run-up to the summit, Erdogan described Turkey as a reliable ally that consistently shoulders responsibility on NATO’s southeastern flank and will continue to play a leading role in the alliance. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoulder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoulder
  1. accept
  2. push
  3. assume
  4. elbow
  5. bear
  6. squeeze
  7. undertake
Verb
  • Challenge accepted While visitors boarded the ships to learn about foreign cultures, sailors operating the vessels found their own ways to connect with their international counterparts.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The Saudi Tennis Federation accepted WTA’s proposal, and the two organizations mutually agreed on the conclusion of the hosting arrangement and remain proud of the achievements realized through their partnership.
    — Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of accept
Verb
  • Handing the survivor her jewelry and hearing her story a few days later gave Dondi and her team of volunteers a reassuring nudge to push forward with their work.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Normally, the onshore flow — a west-to-southwest wind that creates the ocean breeze and pushes air away from the coasts — would push the particulate matter with it.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • Some Cuba watchers are skeptical Rodríguez Castro could assume a leading role in the official government.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of assume
Verb
  • Will Robinson allegedly suffered a thumb fracture and elbow and back injuries.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Cade Horton exited his second start of the season and is lost for the year following elbow surgery.
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of elbow
Verb
  • Another baby born since the tragedy is the daughter of Jesus Ramos.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • The mother was referring to neonatal intensive care units and necrotizing enterocolitis, an often fatal condition in which intestinal tissue can die and allow infection to spread through the body of an infant born prematurely.
    — David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of bear
Verb
  • As artificial intelligence transforms the job market and rising living costs squeeze family budgets, the University of California system is making the case that its degrees remain valuable investments.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • Breweries may not have the budget or staff to create art and with rising costs squeezing small businesses, many breweries started to feature obvious generative AI art prominently as a way to talk about events or create content.
    — Em Sauter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • Once this cycle of testing is extensively undertaken, the AI maker refines the AI and can feel more comfortable that the AI is ready for release.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The number of times Spain has previously undertaken mass legalization measures for immigrants living and working illegally in the country.
    — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of undertake

Phrases Containing shoulder

Browse Nearby Words

should
shoulder
shoulder bag
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Cite this Entry

“Shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoulder. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shoulder

Nglish: Translation of shoulder for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shoulder

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