shrug off

verb

shrugged off; shrugging off; shrugs off
Synonyms of shrug offnext

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 of shrug off

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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
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.
Underpinning the luxury market are affluent home shoppers who can afford to shrug off rising mortgage rates and often pay all cash for a home or come up with a large down payment by raising funds through sales of stocks or other investments. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 Being attacked with tactical nuclear weapons is not an option that an adversary will just shrug off without retaliation, and likely with escalation. — William Hartung, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 By the week’s end, countries with ties to Tehran had so far shrugged off the threat and analysts were left underwhelmed by the US actions. — Yash Roy, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Equity markets have also largely shrugged off the potential ramifications of the conflict, with global stocks seeing a broad rally this year as corporate earnings optimism outweighed concerns about the war's implications for the world economy. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrug off

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrug off was in 1902

Rhymes for shrug off

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Browse Nearby Words

shruggingly
shrug off
shrunken
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Cite this Entry

“Shrug off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug%20off. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shrug off

verb
1
: to brush aside as not important
2
: to take off (a garment) by wriggling out
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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